Paul says in Romans, “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (2:4)

Kindness. Repentance. When was the last time that we thought about how we are drawn to God? When was the last time we considered God’s wooing of us? God did not just declare our guilt.  He did not just declare the coming judgment.  God also declared and demonstrated His great and awesome love for us.  He established that we were the apple of His eye.  He communicated that He loved us so much that He would give His life for us in Jesus. Such love.  Such sacrifice.

What does judging our neighbor have to do with God’s gift to us?  Look again at verse 4. Have you considered what judging our neighbor says about God’s kindness to us? It says that somehow we deserved it.  Or, it says that His kindness wasn’t that big of a deal.  Judging undermines our appreciation of God’s kindness toward us.  It makes our sin less than it is.  It destroys our understanding of it.

What should we do?  Go back to our beginning with Jesus.  Think again about why we said yes to His gift of forgiveness.  Think deeply on what His gift has meant to us.  Think upon it deeply enough that any comparisons or judgments with our neighbors become meaningless.  Then, do it again.

Something to think about,

Pastor John