#340.3 – “The Morning After”

“So the Lord would have nothing to do with all the offspring of Israel, and sent trouble on them, and gave them up into the hands of their attackers, till he had sent them away from before his face. For Israel was broken off from the family of David, and they made Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, king, who, driving them away from the laws of the Lord, made them do a great sin.” - 2 Kings 17:20-21
A couple of weekends ago, Joshua was so exhausted from all that we had been involved with - culminating in a late Saturday afternoon game - that he fell asleep on the way home from that game, at approximately 6:30. When we got home, we agreed we would just let him sleep the rest of night if he would. ‘IF’ is the key word in that phrase. He got up at some point in the early morning hours and kept Sarah up the rest of the night, causing them both to miss church the next day due to sheer exhaustion.
Our actions have consequences. Sometimes our actions affect others and cause consequences for them too. Sarah would have slept all night were it not for Joshua coming in our room and waking her up. But because he did, she could not get the sleep she needed.
Our sin caused consequences for Jesus. HE had to die a cruel death on the cross to pay for OUR sins. Now, of course, He knew all along that this was going to be the case and, therefore, it is more like a plan from the start than an afterthought consequence, but the truth is still: He died for us. Were it not for my sin and your sin, Jesus’ death would have been unnecessary. My choices produced a reality for Him that would not have been needed otherwise.
Our sins also cause consequences for others. There is more than one recorded act in the Bible where a certain leader’s sin causes a family or a nation to go the wrong direction.
Lord, help me to see that my sin not only helped bring You to Your fate, but that my sin oftentimes has consequences that affect others around me. May my love for You and for them produce better choices in me.

Daniel