Warning! Don’t Let Your Sin and it’s Consequence be Passed to Those You Love

Scripture: And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.  Exodus 34: 6-7 NIV

Observation: The Lord has a gigantic heart of forgiveness yet we must pay the consequences for our sin.  Sadly those consequences a lot of the time are seen in our children and grandchildren.

Application: My children have paid the price over an over again for my sin.  They are still paying today and so am I because of our damaged relationship.  I was involved in a sinful lifestyle for over twenty years.  Somehow I just didn’t get how important it was to live according to my Savior’s values.  I was a believer but I was unchurched most of that time.  I really had no idea what it meant to be a believer.  I gave my children all the things, according to the secular world, that were important, nice home, bed time stories, sports and activities along with lots of hugs, kisses and “I love yous.”  I love my children yet I failed them because sin got in the way.  Today my children are struggling in their own relationships.  They are saved but they don’t seek him and their lives suffer.  My relationship with them suffers as well because they can’t trust my counsel; they  look back and see so much sinfulness in my life.  Now that my life is totally dedicated to Christ they have difficulty trusting me and don’t understand that the Holy Spirit lives in me.

Prayer: Lord, I praise you that even a sinner like me can find forgiveness through your Son.  I thank you for giving me an opportunity to give my love to Doug, Ashley and Andrew.  Lord,  please help me live a life full of integrity, living out my days serving you.   Over time, may my older children see and believe that living for you is like the icing on the cake that they already possess. Lord, let this devotion speak to the hearts of others to break the generational cycle of sin. Amen

Laurie