Posted by Pastor Benny Liew • Apr 02, 2022
Our Best Thought is a weekly devotional thoughtfully penned by leaders in DUMC arising from their daily devotions. The devotional’s title, “Our Best Thought” is taken from the hymn, “Be Thou My Vision” as a reference to God: “Thou my best thought, by day or by night.” Publishes on Sundays.
This week’s readings from the Bible reading plans reopened my eyes about disobedience and the consequence of sin. The repercussions of sin go beyond the individual level, reaching entire communities, nations and, I’m afraid to say, even for the generations to come.
As I unpacked each day’s readings, the big idea for me emerges—which is for us to fear God and hate sin. Sin changes and affects not only our individual well-being, communities and nations but also our future generations as well but most of all, our relationship and fellowship with God.
Scripture and Observation:
Your punishment will end, Daughter Zion;
he will not prolong your exile.
But he will punish your sin, Daughter Edom,
and expose your wickedness.
Lamentations 4:22
We notice here that Israel’s dignity has been shattered, their confidence depleted, as they suffered under their enemies during the exile. Verse 22 above shows to us that God would not hold back His punishment due to wickedness and sin, whether it is towards Judah or Edom.
Lamentations 4 reminds us that the consequences of sinning against God transforms the entire living atmosphere from light to darkness. Our life and living, including our relationships with one another, experience the tarnishing of virtues, the decrease of worth, feelings of despair and being forsaken, and the losing of God’s favour.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
Habakkuk 1:4
Prophet Habakkuk cried out to God in desperation for the lack of justice in the nation. He recognised the sins of God’s people — injustice, corruption, wrongdoings, destructions, violence, strife and conflicts in the land. Hearing from Habakkuk, every description listed above seems to be happening even today in our world. Habakkuk complained that the wicked continues to prosper and justice continues to be perverted. Righteous people are cornered by enemies. These are the consequences of sin.
But if you will not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians and they will burn it down; you yourself will not escape from them.’”
Jeremiah 38:18
Jeremiah warned King Zedekiah of what would happen should he continue to disobey God and not repent. Indeed, his family and the city was burnt to the ground when the Lord handed them over to the enemies later. Obedience is the key word, as a leader, a king, Zedekiah, failed and continued in his wicked ways without repenting. In the end, he was defeated by the Babylonians just as prophesied and imprisoned until death. The impact is not only to his family (death) but the entire nation as well.
The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.
2 Chronicles 36:15-16
Future generations are also affected by sin as we see here. These kings continued to do evil in the eyes of the Lord—Jehoahaz (3 months), Jehoiakim (11 years), Jeoiachin (3 months 10 days) and Zedekiah (11 years). There reigns were short-lived and did not leave a promising legacy from God. God sent word again and again but they fell on deaf ears. Even though He took pity on the people and His dwelling place, God eventually allowed the whole nation to fall at the hands of the enemies. This was the consequences of their sins.
And you will know that I am the Lord, for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you.” Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?”
Ezekiel 11:12-13
Finally in Ezekiel chapter 10 and 11, God warned Jerusalem His glory will depart from the temple if they continued to sin. His judgement was on them. The people had not followed God’s decrees or kept His laws, but conformed to the standards of the nations around them.
When God leaves, the people would surely suffer and be stripped of His blessings and protection. This to me is the highest consequences for sin, to lose the presence of God and not have the fellowship or relationship with Him. All will be lost!
Application:
What can we apply from these readings? Fear God and hate sin! The Lord resides in us as we are now His temple—all of us. The consequences of sins are shown in great examples from our spiritual ancestors and if we want to continue to remain in God’s righteousness and holiness, we need to be conscious of the consequences and be intentional and vigilant to remove sin from our lives.
We need to confess our sins and repent from them daily and be sanctified. Draw near to God in devotion, seek the Holy Spirit for truth and may we walk in obedience of His word. Encourage one another and inspire each other to walk closer with God.
Prayer:
Dear God, with fear and trembling we seek Your forgiveness for our sins and ask for Your leading as we seek to live a life as Christ’s disciples. We thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Help us to be more like Him.
Teach us to be more intentional to do what matters to You instead of chasing worldly counterfeit glories. May the consequences of sin open our eyes and hearts to be vigilant in our walk with You. Grant us boldness and favour to share the gospel and to live a life of obedience until we see You again. In Jesus’ most precious Name we pray and ask.
Amen.
Pastor Benny Liew is Zone Pastor for PJ South 1.
Our Best Thought is a weekly devotional that follows DUMC’s Bible Reading Plan. Posts on Sundays.