RECEIVING WHAT'S DUE

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.

Proverbs 11:31, 13:21

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Let me share with you a common misperception that some believers have today. It goes like this:

Because I am a Christian, I will no longer receive judgment from God.

This view paints a picture that when one places their faith and trust in Jesus as Savior, they are automatically cured of their affliction of sin. After all, why would the Lord correct us if we were blameless?

The truth of the matter is that we will be cured of sinfulness and wickedness because we believed in Christ one day in the future when this worldly life ends but until then, we are still sinners and still capable of committing evil. Accordingly, God will judge and correct His children to move them back toward righteousness, whether they are in Christ or not.

The two proverbs today underscore this truth. Look at them again:

If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner! Proverbs 11:31

Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things. Proverbs 13:21

The first proverb highlights another misconception, one held by many non-believers. It goes like this:

Since I don’t believe in God, none of my troubles or trials could come from Him.

Clearly the word of God proves this belief as completely false. For no one is beyond the correction and discipline of the Lord God Almighty, the Maker, Creator, and Ruler of us all. He hates sin, period. And anyone who engages in it, whether a believer or not, will face His penalties.

Indeed, trouble pursues the sinner. This is why it’s unbelievable why anyone would want to give into sin.

I say that even more so because the second proverb does assure that “the righteous are rewarded with good things.”

It makes sense, doesn’t it?

Live in sin and in opposition to the God who despises it and expect His consequences. Just as a parent metes our punishment to their child in order to correct their wrongs so too will our heavenly parent, God our Father, bring penance to His children – and we are all His children, whether we want to believe it or not.

Conversely, live obediently in accordance with the Lord’s will and way and you will always be basking in His favor, a favor that brings blessings and rewards from the One who grants us every good and perfect gift from above (James 1:17).

The bottom line is this. God is just and fair and perfectly right in all He does.

Allow Him to lead and guide you in every way and you will find yourself living in righteousness and the rewards that comes with it.

Disregard and disrespect Him by opting for sin and you can expect His wrath and ire manifesting itself in corrective action, action that is going to be anything but pleasant.

Either way, a person gets their due by what they choose to do. If I were you, I would choose righteousness.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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