As a mother of two young boys, “consequence” is a word used regularly in our house.

For example, the consequence of eating your dinner is that if it is a dessert night, well, you get some.  If you don’t eat your dinner, you don’t get any yummy cookies and cream ice cream.

Sucks to be you.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8

There are consequences to everything and they don’t have to be all bad.

Such as, hard work often pays off to greater success, a job well done, more money, self-satisfaction and more.  Therefore, the consequences of great effort are many positive things in life that make us all feel accomplished and better about ourselves and the world.

It takes one heck of a person to honestly recognize that her actions or lack thereof – regardless of whether they are good or bad – result in where she is today, how she sees the world and what she thinks of herself.

It all goes back to our attitudes and our ability to take responsibility for wherever we currently find ourselves.

Sadly, we live in a world that says it’s okay to blame everyone else for the negative consequences we are suffering.

This thought process couldn’t be more wrong.

Of course, I am as bad as the next person and I am definitely guilty of the blame game when someone irritates me and I lash out with ugliness.  I mean, come on, if everyone would be nice, I wouldn’t use profanity as much.  Yea, right…I wish.

Clearly, I still have plenty of growing up to do!!!  Sigh.

Sometimes we actually suffer consequences from the choices of others.  However, we must understand that the one choice we always DO have is how we respond to our circumstances.

The consequences of our reactions are almost more important than the actions we take on a daily basis because these really show our true character.

Think about it. Everyone can be on their best behavior when life is normal.  It’s the unknown and unexpected that can kick us in the gut and have us acting like a screaming banshee.

However, this is where we really find out what we are made of and what and WHO is living in our heart, mind, soul and spirit.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:9-10

Most of us hope to have the benefit of positive consequences, but sometimes it’s just not meant to be because ultimately, we fail to live a righteous life in a fallen world.

Make no mistake.  We are ALL sinners.  We ALL suffer consequences.  AND NONE OF US ARE WORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE.

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. Isaiah 59:2

The good news lies in the One who saves us even when we have no way of saving ourselves!!

Now, that is a consequence I will take any day of the week!  Thank you, Jesus!!!

Some Wisdom for Today:  Proverbs 29:15 – The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.