God Doesn't Smile When His Children Misbehave

Posted: 17 Apr 2017 03:12 PM PDT
God Doesn't Smile When His Children Misbehave - He Loves Us Too Much for That.
Many years ago, I had a neighbor who never disciplined her child. When he ran through my house doing things he shouldn't, she'd sweetly ask him to stop. He never obeyed, and her only response was to smile as if there were nothing she could do. She never punished him even when he did something harmful.

She loved her child and showered him with affection, but in reality, her parenting harmed her son.

Why?

Because she wasn’t teaching her son discipline, self-control, respect, and patience. She was helping him become demanding, whiny, and unpopular, setting him up for future failure.

I mention this because there is an emphasis in the modern church to think of God as having the same character as this mother. Everyone loves to emphasize God’s love and concern, but mention His discipline, punishment, righteous anger, and expectations, and people get upset.

But Scripture makes it clear that if we run through this world like naughty children, we'll forfeit opportunities and rewards, and God will discipline and punish us.

He loves us too much to do otherwise (Hebrews 12:5-11).
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These devotions give more insights into this subject: "A Trophy for Everyone?" and "That's All You Get" and "When Little Things Are Big Things.