Sin has consequences. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." God forgives our sins when we sincerely confess our sins and are willing to change, but the sins that we commit have consequences. The consequences of our sins are the result of what we have done wrong. For example, Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sins is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." The consequence or the result of sin is spiritual death, but those who choose to believe in the Lord Jesus as their Lord are forgiven of their sins and saved from spiritual death. A practical example of the consequences of our sin is supposed we cheat on our final exams and the professor catches us. The consequence of our cheating is failing the final exams. In God's eyes, we sin against him because we cheat in our exams. Although we ask God for forgiveness and make a promise that we will change, God immediately forgives our sins, but the consequences of cheating in our exams remain. We are still going to fail our final exam.
Although God forgave David of all his sins, he still faced the consequences of his sins. The baby died, and his son, Absalom, would eventually rebel against him. Some sins can cause death and a big loss in our lives. They can also affect our families. How many families have gone through a divorce because of infidelity? Or how many people have lost everything because of sinning? Many people today are living with the consequences of their sins, although God already forgives them. The lesson that we can learn from this devotion is to think carefully before sinning because the consequences of it can be greater than we can anticipate or handle. The best way to avoid the consequences of sin is to run away from sin when being tempted. I got pulled over by a cop for speeding on a 35-mile speed-limit road. The consequence of that was paying $350 for my speeding ticket. Although I was able to reduce the fine by taking a safety driving course, I lost time and money because of the consequences of my speeding.
Let us not become the people who immediately sin without thinking or ignoring the consequences. Every sin has consequences, whether it is small or big. Every time we sin, it affects us emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually without even knowing it. It can also affect the people that we love and respect. But most importantly, we are sinning against our God.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully, meditate on the questions while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What should I do when I am being tempted to sin? Is there a situation in my life when I sin and face the consequences? How did it affect my life?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for reminding me today that sin has consequences. Please help me not give in to sin when I am tempted. Please help me process the consequences, and they may deter me from giving in to the temptation. If I am already living with the consequences of my sin, please give me the strength to get through it and save me from the consequences of my sin. In your name, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.