This is the first of two scriptures we’ll be living in this week…
“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?” Romans 2:4 (NIV)
This scripture starts with the word “or”, which means we should back up a few verses for some context. Michael Card gives us some context in his book, Inexpressible. Here, we’re introduced to the word “hesed”, which is a Hebrew word for God’s kindness. We’ll discuss this further tomorrow.
The context of Paul’s reference to hesed in Romans 2:4 is the previous discussion of sin in the Gentile world. In the opening verses of chapter 2, Paul is insisting that the church must keep from the sin of being judgmental, especially given the pagan environment. For when they judge others they are really judging themselves. In that context, Paul makes an extraordinary statement that relates to the hesed character of God: “Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness [chrēstotēs] is intended to lead you to repentance?”
The best motivator to keep the Roman Christians, both Jew and Gentile, from becoming mired in their sinful pagan surroundings and also to keep them from judging each other in the process, is to remember the revelation of God’s character that goes all the way back to Exodus 34. He is a God of hesed. It is not fear that drives us to Him, but rather His unexpected and extraordinary kindness that provides a pathway along which we are drawn to him (2018 by Michael Card. Published by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. www.ivpress.com).
Isn’t it wonderful that in the middle of such a heavy chapter, we find God’s kindness… intended to lead us to repentance?
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us! This is God’s kindness towards us!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:3-4
He had us in mind BEFORE the creation of the world, and not only that, made us ready to receive His salvation!
Reflection:
- How have you seen God’s kindness in your life?
- In what ways has God’s kindness affected your life?
- Has His kindness caused you to move in a different direction than you were previously headed?
Pray through 1 John 1:5-9.
“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
