Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?
Romans 2:4
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!
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that it is Your kindness that leads to repentance. I am miserable in my sin, and I know that You have allowed me to feel this way so that I will turn back. Your love reaches down and lifts me up.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
