Devotional: Why Not Repent?

Joel 2

God plainly wants to bless us. However, because He is just, He cannot bless our sin. If we love our sin more than Him, how can He treat us the same as those who detest sin and seek after Him? He would be unfair to do so. Imagine two children. One always does as is told. Though he may mess up, like, say, break a window playing ball, he immediately rushes to his father saying he is sorry, wanting to make it right. The other son takes his sonship for granted. He minds his father when he feels like it. When disciplined, he thinks his father unfair to punish him. If he breaks a window playing ball, he delights in his own strength at hitting the ball so well and thinks no more of it because His father has the money to buy a new window.

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God plainly wants to bless us. However, because He is just, He cannot bless our sin. If we love our sin more than Him, how can He treat us the same as those who detest sin and seek after Him? He would be unfair to do so. Imagine two children. One always does as is told. Though he may mess up, like, say, break a window playing ball, he immediately rushes to his father saying he is sorry, wanting to make it right. The other son takes his sonship for granted. He minds his father when he feels like it. When disciplined, he thinks his father unfair to punish him. If he breaks a window playing ball, he delights in his own strength at hitting the ball so well and thinks no more of it because His father has the money to buy a new window.

Now, imagine those two boys are yours? Which would you say demonstrates integrity and righteousness? Would you honor them equally?

As a mother, I can answer assuredly that I would not honor the latter child—I would scold him, fret over his character, pray he would be humbled and learn to serve and value the life he has been given. When I think of the first son, my heart would swell with delight. When thinking of the latter, fill with grief and worry for his well-being. However, I would love them equally. I would scold the spoiled child because I love him.

As a parent, I would much rather spend my time honoring and celebrating my child. I delight in being able to reward my son for doing well. So, why do we force God to chastise us? Why do we not humble ourselves to Him as a child does to his parents, wanting to obey and please them because he loves them and they love him? I trust my heavenly Father has my best interests in heart. I trust that when He speaks, it will come to pass. If He says my current predicament is for my good (Romans 8:28), I wait to see what lesson He has for me. I want to be the child that, when I mess up, immediately runs to my Father repenting and wanting to make it right. Then, even if I mess up really bad, I know my Father is proud of me. Above all, I know that no matter what mistakes I make, I know He loves me.