Delayed Consequences

[Evidence_of_Grace]

All,

I wanted to share something I read in a devotional with you regarding consequences. I know, personally, that when instant gratification is staring you in the face, it is hard to think of the consequences of choosing to act on our urges. Here is the snippet that I want to share:

"When God delays discipline, it's not due to indifference; it's due to His very nature - He is gracious and slow to anger. Some see that as permission to sin, but God intends it to be an invatation to repent (Rom 2:4)" - Julie Ackerman Link

When it comes to God's grace, His forgiveness of sin, our habitual sins of SA or PA are hard to understand. I don't claim to understand it at all but think that a good starting point is learning that our actions truly have consequences down the line and that to walk in repentance is to do a 180 to the person we once were.

in Christ,
M - EoG

[Daniel]

EoG,

Absolutely. Good observation to post, thank you.

I would add that the "180" of repentance first happens in the mind, agreeing with God about said issue, and is then carried out (usually imperfectly) with actions.

Romans, Galatians, Ephesians -jewels!

Daniel

[Dewvis]

I realize that this is the religion forum, so I'm not trying to stir debate or upset anyone, I'm not trying to put down anyone who is religious, but I do feel it is necessary for me to take what religious people say and then transpose it into words that make sense to me and that are useful for me and for everyone else here, not just religious people. We probably agree more than we realize, but we are sometimes speaking different languages and looking at the subject from different angles.

I think there is stuff here in the religious forum that is really helpful, but I have to translate it in my head in order for it to be something I can use.

As to delayed consequences, I see this same idea in medicine. One can eat junk food, neglect exercise, be a couch potato, and seem fine on the outside.

We kill ourselves, we cut ourselves to bits through one pleasurable cut at a time, over a long period. People realize the damage they've done only when it is too late to reverse the situation.

I have been trying to get over porn many times, because the bible says God demands repentance. Scary stuff. It didn't work for me, it was all stick and no carrot, which in my case lead to anger at God.

I've read a lot of the journals here and it seems to me that people who are successful in quitting are successful because they are doing it for themselves.

If I try to do something for God, but I really don't want to do it for myself, I don't see how success is possible.

I like what you said about "agreeing" with God. I have to want it just as much as God wants it. I have to want it for myself AND know that God wants it for me too.

Hope this makes sense.

[Daniel]

I have to want it just as much as God wants it. I have to want it for myself AND know that God wants it for me too.

Hope this makes sense.

Yes, exactly.

You could even state it like "I'm doing this for myself but I know in my heart that God wants me to do this too."

Daniel

[Evidence_of_Grace]

Dewvis,

I understand what you are saying. I am glad that you could distill my words into something helpful for you! My thought is, if I did not think that God desired my recovery from this, and believe that He will, in some way, give me strength to weather this, I would hopeless as, in myself, I am powerless to resist the urges and habits of PA/SA!

M - EoG

[chewy]

Dewvis,
I think even as Christians, we all have had some sort of anger with God at some point in our lives. That being said, that anger stems from the things that WE want Him to do for us rather than what He has in plan for us, if that makes sense. It is in our human nature to want control over everything, including our own lives, but it isn't until we turn our lives over to the Lord that we are truly set free in our ways. This is NOT an easy thing to do by any means and takes some time and prayer. This is the 3rd step which states, "We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God". I like to think that I have done this, but as I have done some personal inventory and praying, I have come to realize that I haven't accomplished this yet.
You also state that by doing things for God and not yourself, success can not be achieved. Our bodies are temples to God and He wants us to take care of them and respect them at all times. As Christians we don't do things FOR God...that's called religion. The good things we do don't get us closer to Him or into a higher level of Heaven......We do things for ourselves to GLORIFY God and to show people He is the real deal!!! I guess all I'm trying to tell you is, do it for yourself, believe in yourself and you will be amazed how the Lord could bless you....if you let Him.

[cyberpunk]

One of my very favorite scriptures in in Acts 11:18 it says "...Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."

I think a lot of people view repentance as a horrible and mean thing. They see repentance as feeling of guilt and sorrow, a punishment from God, to force us to be good. The definition of repentace that I like is "to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life".

If we had a cyberpunk version of Acts 11:18 it would read something like "Then has God granted to all of His children the ability to turn from sin and live." Doesn't that sound like what we are all doing here on this forum regardless of our religious beliefs?

Repentance is part of faith. It is an act of faith brought about by the belief that we can be healed. I guess this ties into this thread because, as EOG said, God withholds full consequences which gives us the opportunity to repent. Sometimes I think he gives us enough consequences to recognize that we need to change and that we need His help.

Repent - Definition and More from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary

[chewy]

I totally agree with you cyberpunk. One thing you said that really hit me was "Sometimes I think he gives us enough consequences to recognize that we need to change and that we need His help." Ohhh so true!