Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and
forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you
to repentance? (Romans 2:4 ESV)
He does not have to bless us.
He does not have to love us.
Think about that.
He does not have to love us.
Think about that.
HE IS GOD!
He is Jehovah Hashopet—the Lord Judge of the
Universe!
The most powerful being…ever…He could squash us like bugs, if He so chose. He could enslave us all and force us to do His bidding. He could mold us and make us into tiny brainless automatons, living the lives He wants us to lead with no say in the matter—like Barbie dolls and Toy Soldiers—going where He wants us to go, saying what He wants us to say. He has that kind of power!
Yes, I know that sounds like something out of a Sci-Fi movie. However, if God were a different kind of god our lives could be poles apart from where they are now.
Our God, though, despite His overwhelming power—or maybe because of it—is a kind and loving God. He has the power to judge us and make us pay for our crimes, yet He is instead loving and forgiving. He is patient and merciful. He allows us to make our own mistakes; and, He works with us, helping us, to learn from them and move forward.
Paul tells us, in the above passage, that we should be grateful for that loving kindness. He reminds us that we should feel such thankfulness for the Lord’s patience and understanding that we want to live repentant lives. Because of His gift of forgiveness we should doing our utmost to live in such a way as to please Him, always.
Instead we are forever taking steps backward, moving in the wrong direction, living lives of sinful selfishness—acting like spoiled brats.
I am just as guilty as anyone. I am self-centered, jealous, angry, vengeful and often just plain rotten. I am often shamed by my own behavior. How much more so is HE ashamed of me?
Today, I will be meditating on God’s kindness and transversely, my own selfishness. I would ask you to do the same. Ask yourself this question: Am I taking God’s loving kindness for granted? If the answer is yes…it’s time to make a change.
The most powerful being…ever…He could squash us like bugs, if He so chose. He could enslave us all and force us to do His bidding. He could mold us and make us into tiny brainless automatons, living the lives He wants us to lead with no say in the matter—like Barbie dolls and Toy Soldiers—going where He wants us to go, saying what He wants us to say. He has that kind of power!
Yes, I know that sounds like something out of a Sci-Fi movie. However, if God were a different kind of god our lives could be poles apart from where they are now.
Our God, though, despite His overwhelming power—or maybe because of it—is a kind and loving God. He has the power to judge us and make us pay for our crimes, yet He is instead loving and forgiving. He is patient and merciful. He allows us to make our own mistakes; and, He works with us, helping us, to learn from them and move forward.
Paul tells us, in the above passage, that we should be grateful for that loving kindness. He reminds us that we should feel such thankfulness for the Lord’s patience and understanding that we want to live repentant lives. Because of His gift of forgiveness we should doing our utmost to live in such a way as to please Him, always.
Instead we are forever taking steps backward, moving in the wrong direction, living lives of sinful selfishness—acting like spoiled brats.
I am just as guilty as anyone. I am self-centered, jealous, angry, vengeful and often just plain rotten. I am often shamed by my own behavior. How much more so is HE ashamed of me?
Today, I will be meditating on God’s kindness and transversely, my own selfishness. I would ask you to do the same. Ask yourself this question: Am I taking God’s loving kindness for granted? If the answer is yes…it’s time to make a change.
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