Consequences
Insights by Larry Andes
A twelve-year-old foster girl who was in our home asked for approval for an activity that she wanted to participate in. We responded that it would probably not be approved because of an incident that had happened recently.
I said, "It is like a consequence." She looked puzzled and asked if a consequence was a punishment. We told her that a consequence is something like punishment or it is like a reward.
Back and forth we went. "What will happen when you ask for something special and you have been showing intentional disrespect to us?" "I won't be allowed to do it. Will you give me permission to date a boy who is two to three years older than me and shows you disrespect?" My response, "It depends on how mature you are at that time. Why will he show you respect on a date if he does not show us respect?" Consequence!
Many more hypothetical situations were created and brought lots of laughter while having a thread of seriousness.
Webster defines consequence this way.
"That which follows something and arises from it; punishment or suffering brought about by one's own action." Romans 3:23 NIV, "For the wages of sin is death, (payment is death because of sin that has not be repented of) but the gift of God (reward) is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!" The consequence for sin that is not repented of is spiritual death and in some cases physical death; however, the consequence and reward for confession and repenting to Jesus Christ is eternal life! Peace here and peace for eternity!
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Golden Legend says,
A twelve-year-old foster girl who was in our home asked for approval for an activity that she wanted to participate in. We responded that it would probably not be approved because of an incident that had happened recently.
I said, "It is like a consequence." She looked puzzled and asked if a consequence was a punishment. We told her that a consequence is something like punishment or it is like a reward.
Back and forth we went. "What will happen when you ask for something special and you have been showing intentional disrespect to us?" "I won't be allowed to do it. Will you give me permission to date a boy who is two to three years older than me and shows you disrespect?" My response, "It depends on how mature you are at that time. Why will he show you respect on a date if he does not show us respect?" Consequence!
Many more hypothetical situations were created and brought lots of laughter while having a thread of seriousness.
Webster defines consequence this way.
"That which follows something and arises from it; punishment or suffering brought about by one's own action." Romans 3:23 NIV, "For the wages of sin is death, (payment is death because of sin that has not be repented of) but the gift of God (reward) is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!" The consequence for sin that is not repented of is spiritual death and in some cases physical death; however, the consequence and reward for confession and repenting to Jesus Christ is eternal life! Peace here and peace for eternity!
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Golden Legend says,
"No action, whether foul or fair, is ever done but it leaves somewhere a record, written by fingers ghostly, as a blessing or a curse."
The older I get, the more I ask for God's mercy! I am still learning and daily ask for God's holiness to flow through me. Because of Jesus' death and suffering on our behalf we can enjoy His presence in our lives as a reward for the price He paid.
What a wonderful consequence!
What a wonderful consequence!