How should "the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished" influence our actions? Verse Focus “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished.” (Nahum 1:3) God’s Unchanging Justice • Justice is an essential part of His character—set alongside His patience and power. • Because He “will by no means” overlook guilt, sin is never ignored or forgotten (Exodus 34:7; Hebrews 10:30–31). • His standard never shifts with culture or time (Malachi 3:6). Personal Response: Repent and Believe • Recognize our own guilt—“all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). • Run to the only provision for forgiveness: Christ’s sacrifice (Romans 5:8–9). • Keep short accounts with God—ongoing confession and cleansing (1 John 1:9). Daily Conduct: Walk in Holiness • Take sin seriously in thought, word, and action (1 Peter 1:15–16). • Practice spiritual disciplines—Scripture, prayer, fellowship—to guard against compromise. • Depend on the Spirit’s power rather than willpower (Galatians 5:16). Relationships: Show Mercy but Leave Vengeance to God • Because final justice is God’s domain, refuse personal revenge (Romans 12:19). • Extend forgiveness, knowing God will judge rightly (Ephesians 4:32). • Pursue fairness in all dealings—work, family, community (Micah 6:8). Witness: Urgency of the Gospel • If God will not leave guilt unpunished, people need the gospel now (2 Corinthians 5:20). • Share the message with clarity and compassion, pointing to both God’s justice and His mercy in Christ. • Pray for opportunities and boldness (Colossians 4:3–4). Comfort: God’s Justice Brings Hope • Evil will not prevail indefinitely—every wrong answered (Psalm 37:28). • Victims can rest in His righteous judgment and eventual vindication (Revelation 6:10). • Believers anticipate a world made right under Christ’s reign (Revelation 21:4–5). Summary Commitments • Confess and forsake sin quickly. • Cultivate holiness in daily choices. • Leave vengeance to the Lord while practicing mercy. • Share the gospel with urgency. • Rest in the certainty that God’s perfect justice will prevail. |
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