Refined by Fire

Isaiah 48:10
See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

I don't believe a loving God would give us a pass on every sin we commit just because we say "I love you" or "I believe in you". I believe that would be the least loving kind of God.

As a parent, I love my kids, but I expect more of them because of that love. I give them a pass when I know they truly didn't know better (depending upon the act), but when they know better and do something wrong anyway, I think they learn the lesson better when they suffer the consequences of their actions.

I think God's love means that sometimes he will step back and let us suffer the consequences of our behaviors so that we will draw closer to Him. He doesn't afflict us, but he does allow us to face the consequences of our actions as a learning experience.

That is not to say that I believe God does not forgive us for doing things wrong. Nor does it mean that I believe God does not protect us from ourselves and our actions, it just means that I think he doesn't protect us from ourselves just because we believe in Him, he protects us from ourselves when he knows that we won't learn anything from it, and he allows us to experience the consequences of our actions when he knows that we will grow closer to Him from it.

Romans 5:2-5 (King James Version)

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

1 Peter 5:10
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Revelation 3:19
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

Hebrews 12:4-6 (King James Version)

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Amen.