Romans 2:4 (NIV)
4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his
kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness
is intended to lead you to repentance?
It is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. He is
patient, desiring that none should perish. As I meditate on this Scripture, I
am reminded of how often I am miserable in my sin and how the Lord does not
always offer me relief from my misery. He offers me, instead, the gift of
forgiveness.
He longs for to us to come back to Him in repentance and
restoration of fellowship. Paul writes that an unrepentant heart stores up
wrath for the day of God’s judgment. Consider a loving parent who patiently
leads a child towards repentance. When my children were young, I tried to give
them every opportunity to tell me the truth when I knew they had disobeyed me.
I often would tell them that the consequences would be far
greater if they failed to be truthful. Our loving Father is infinitely more
patient with us, desiring that we turn back to Him. Paul, a zealous Jew,
understood the self- righteousness of the Jews. He knew of their temptation to
judge the Gentiles and yet to not live up to the standard of God’s Word
themselves. Although the Gentiles did not live by the law, they were judged by
God according to the light that had been revealed to them, the truth of God’s
Word, and their deeds. God, the impartial judge, waited for them to repent. He
waits for us as well. His kindness leads us to repentance. How irresistible His
love is!
Thought for today?
Have I reflected on the things that are causing distress, worry and pain?
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