Oh, How He Loves Us!

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? ~ Romans 2:4; NKJV

Don't you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don't you care? Can't you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn from your sin? ~ Romans 2:4; NLT

Or do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? ~ Romans 2:4; RSV

No matter what version of this verse we look at, it is clear to me that our God is beyond amazing! It is incredible to me that He has loved us so much and for so long [before the earth was formed] that He pours out His kindness upon us so we can respond to Him - in the first place. Wow!

I imagine it going this way. The Apostle Paul is speaking to the Romans and trying to get them to understand how great the Father’s love for us is. And he says, “Hey you guys! Don’t you know it was the Father’s kindness that drew you to Him- in repentance in the first place?”

It had nothing to do with you – the only part we play in this fact is that we are drawn.

It completely blows me away. I feel humbled and NOT humiliated by His love, mercy and grace. There is a huge difference between feeling humbled and humiliated. Think about it, please.

In my opinion and life experience there is nothing more settling and gratifying than knowing that God wants me. He does not need me…He wants me! He wants you! Jesus came and made our way to the Father. Oh, how He loves us!

Just let this verse roll around in your head, like a wave on the ocean’s shore. As a wave comes in to the land it deposits a few new grains of sand as it crashes on the shore and as it goes back out to the depths of the sea it takes a few grains of the old sand with it. I think in the same way it can work for us when we are trying understand something new. So, as you let this verse and the knowledge that He poured out His kindness on you [and me] keep turning over and over in your head, a bit more of the truth will sink in and a bit more of our old misunderstanding of who God is will fall away.