As parents we sometimes see our children disobey when their desire for what they want is greater than their fear of punishment. It can be easy for us to get off course as well in our relationship with the Lord if we don't experience immediate and direct corrective action for our wrongdoing. We might begin to think the Lord didn't mean what He said in His Word; maybe the instruction doesn't apply to us personally, or perhaps He just might not notice.
our obedience comes from fear of God. In other words, if there is no fear of consequence then there is no peace. Not the kind of fear that is paralyzing or based in terror, but rather is full of love, honor, respect, and knowledge that God's plan is for our prosperity, not destruction. Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
I'm sure God is troubled by our disobedience and rebellion -- it is why He sent His Son Jesus to earth: "And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:20) Christ's death on the cross was all part of God's plan for mankind -- the Lord offers peace and the forgiveness of sin --
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