Penalty and Reward - The Wesleyan Church

I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up. (Ps. 75:10)

The basketball player had just been called for committing her third foul. The coach benched her for the remainder of the first half. When play was about to resume, the coach took her aside and said, “I’m putting you back in the game. But one more foul and you’ll be holding down the bench for the rest of the game.”

Less than sixty seconds after the tipoff, a whistle blew, and that same player was looking up at the referee from the court where she and a member of the opposing team lay. Ten seconds later, she was holding down the bench.

Personal decisions and behavior can lead to consequences or praise. Children can experience timeout or treats. Youth can experience privileges being removed, restored, or added. Adults can experience penalties or promotions.

Paul wrote in Romans 8:8–9, “Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.” God’s judgment will occur when our earthly lives end. The decisions we make, the people we imitate, the lives we influence, and the actions we take reflect our hearts. While Jesus died for us, saved us, and intercedes for us, we must choose daily whether to live in the righteousness he offers.

Pursue the Spirit of God, and embrace his righteousness.

Janelle Vernon serves The Wesleyan Church as executive director of Communication and Administration, general secretary, and publisher for Wesleyan Publishing House.