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April 4 - Starting With Us First
“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” – 1 Peter 4:17
God will judge the whole world with a righteous judgment and will dispose of the wicked and rebellious at the end of the age. Those who think they are getting away with evil will one day stand before the throne of God and receive the end of their works. They will be cast into the lake of fire and forever endure the penalty of their ways. But what about the people of God, what will happen to them?
This truth should not make us arrogant, since the judgment of God begins with His kids. God judges His people. However, the difference is in the result of judgment. When God judges His people, He looks down as a Father to correct and discipline us. He judges with a mind to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ, not completely destroy us.
Not so with the nations. When He judges the nations, it is to punish the sins that are committed in unrighteousness and wickedness. When people reject the sacrifice to Jesus Christ and deny Him as Lord, they are judging themselves. God is the Judge of all mankind, but as Judge, He is merely assigning punishment to the sin. As Christians, the punish due our sins was put upon Jesus Christ. Judgment is not a bad thing if we realize that judgment always brings with it an option for mercy, since we serve a merciful God.
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