Craig Clouston

Unnecessary Punishment

April 4

For Christ died for sins once for all…to bring you to God. 

1Peter 3:18 

It had been a sleepless night, full of questions. Myriad thoughts wound their way through Mitch’s mind…and hopefully to a listening God’s ear. Around 5am God whispered, “Your sin has already received the punishment necessary.”

Immediately Mitch’s mind argued, “I know Jesus’ blood covered my sin. But I keep making mistakes!”   

“And?” God asked lovingly.   

“I feel so careless. How can You still be pleased with me?”    

“I was pleased with you before you awakened at 2:00 am when all this started, before you had any input in your day,” God gently chastened. Then He said, “You are Mine, and I am always pleased with you! You are looking for punishment that isn’t coming.”  

Knowing Mitch wasn’t convinced, God set in motion a series of events to show His loving faithfulness: his devotions that morning held meaning to each of last night’s questions…a song he listened to spoke of God’s unfailing love…and to settle the matter, when Mitch went for his morning walk, he encountered Tom, a brother in the Lord, who just happened to be working on the hiking trail in his remote area of the county. Tom greeted him with a message that could only have come from the Lord!

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Many Christians suffer from a performance-based mentality pertaining to our relationship with God. The Father’s love, or withholding of that love, is based on whether we are living a godly life at the moment.   

Mitch and Tom’s meeting was not by chance. God was leaving no room for doubt as to how He felt about Mitch. This divine appointment settled the matter in Mitch’s heart. 

When Jesus died on Calvary’s cross it was for all sin…for all time! Not just for those of the past and present, and those in someone else’s future. Yet, many of us still question how our sin can’t deserve further punishment.  

The complete answer is deep, and not to be stumbled upon. As you come to the Father for answers, He will provide them…much as He did for Mitch. But rest assured…your performance has nothing to do with God’s being pleased with you. 

Prayer

“Although I don’t fully understand it, LORD, bring me to the knowledge that all my sin was atoned for on Calvary…and while I’m getting there, lead me in love. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”