The creation itself testifies to the fact that our God is awesomely powerful. When we combine His power with His justice, especially that He is a God who hates sin and we are sinners, it’s easy to conclude at times that God is punishing us or getting even with us for some sin.
It’s true that the writer to the Hebrews states, “My son, do not regard the Lord’s discipline lightly, and do not become weary of his correction. For the Lord disciplines the one whom he loves, and he corrects every son he accepts” (Hebrews 12:5-6). So, how do we reconcile God’s justice with His mercy? How are we able to say that the Lord in love “disciplines” us and trust that He “does not treat us as our sins deserve. He does not repay us according to our guilty deeds?” (Psalm 103:10) Jesus is the answer.
In fact, St. Paul in our epistle lesson today wraps up the fifth chapter with that most powerful and reassuring verse: “God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). With that truth at the center of our lives, we know that any discipline God allows, or generally speaking any hardship that comes our way due to living in this sin-fallen world, God will “make all things work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
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