Skip to main content

Friday... But what about this other method? Maybe it would work better.


Friday... But what about this other method? Maybe it would work better.

There is so much in this world that causes such disagreement. I streamed this week a General Assembly of a worldwide church and there was so much disagreement. It happens at work, in our schools, in our churches, in our homes and it happened back when Paul was writing his letters in the New Testament of the Bible. I mean the Jews were trying to kill him. But he gave some very good advice in his letter to the Romans. It is a method that we even in the church don't use very often.

In Romans 2:4 (NLT) he writes, "Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?"

Now he is a definitely powerful God. He could use so many methods to turn people from their sins and we see some of those methods in the OT but here he talks about being kind. What if the Christian Democrats, the Christian Republicans used this method? What if we as parents used this method? What if we who are Christians in the church used kindness? What if we who are Christians who see so many problems, so much sin in our world, who see and believe that Christ is the answer, what if would show and live out his kindness, his tolerance and his patience that he uses with us? Oh we're good at the eye for an eye, at the pointing our fingers and condemning and calling out the sins and the sinners of our world but "don't you see how wonderfully, kind, tolerant, and patient the God that we serve is?  Does this mean nothing to you?"

The Message says, "God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical-life change." He has within himself the ability to bring great judgement on us and someday he will but for now let's revel in the fact that "God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical-life change." And for many of us, being kind and tolerant and patient is a radical-life change.

Yes, someday God will bring judgment into the world. That is his job, not ours. But for today his love and mercy and grace and tolerance and kindness is at work in and through our lives. 

Just a thought for today from God's Word. Why not give it a try and see what a difference it would make? Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning


 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is! Look at this, Proverbs 5:21-23 (CEV) says, "The Lord sees everything, and he watches us closely. Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control." That is true of so many. Now look at this, Luke 15:1-7 says, "Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, 'This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.' Then Jesus told them this story: If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.' Jesus said, 'In the same way there is mo
Post a Comment
Read more

Tuesday... Let's be smart.

Tuesday... Let's be smart. Proverbs 12:16a (CEV) says, "Losing your temper is foolish." It really is. And it is so hard to take it back. That is not smart. There are always consequence when we lose our temper and they are usually not good. Think of the last time you lost your temper at home, at your kids, at your spouse, at your pets. at your life, at where you live, at where you work. There are always repercussions and they are not good.  The New Living Translation says, "A fool is quick-tempered." The Message says, "Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly." The Amplified Bible says, "The [arrogant] fool's anger is quickly known [because he lacks self-control and common sense]." It just is not a good thing. is it? But then the rest of this verse, this proverb (CEV) says, "ignoring an insult is smart." It really is. I have striven in dealing with people to give them a benefit of doubt. They didn't mean that, they
Post a Comment
Read more

Friday... But, can be such a beautiful word.

Friday... But, can be such a beautiful word. It really can be life changing. Look at what Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians. In 2:1-3 (NLT) he says, "Once you were dead because of your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil - the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else." There it is, there it is. That is the way we are living or have lived. Dead is a definite word of finality. At least the devil thought so and maybe you do too. And then verses 4-5 starts by saying, "But", that beautiful life changing word of opportunity even though we are dead. Yes, we are subject to God's anger, "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even t
Post a Comment
Read more