Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins? (Lam. 3:39)
WE SAY WE WANT TO SEE JUSTICE come to wrongdoers. You do the crime, you do the time. You violate the law, you pay the fine. It is only right and fair. Don’t come whining if you did wrong and you got caught. You get what you deserve. That is justice.
There is something in us that likes to see sin punished—as long as it is when others have done wrong and have to pay for it. We tend to have a different view when it comes to ourselves. We deserve some mercy.
Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Mercy is what God offers us in Christ. We deserve being judged and punished for our sin, but Christ took our punishment and asked the Father to show us mercy. Because of Jesus, we do not get what we deserve.
Don’t complain when you get what you deserve. When God forgives us for our sin, He is not giving us what we deserve but rather what we do not deserve. We deserve punishment. He gives us mercy. Be grateful.
Forgive someone who has wronged you, just as God has forgiven you.
Ken Heer was the author of Ancient Fire (WPH), pastor, and community director. He passed away prior to this publication.
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