Anchor Devotional

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The Patience of God

“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

Sometimes the Lord shocks us with His Word to show us the perfection of His holiness and the depth of His grace. The opening verses of Romans 2 had exactly that effect on me.

Paul’s forthright words made me think of the extent to which God had withheld His righteous judgment against me so that I might in His perfect timing be saved. He states simply that when we show contempt for God’s patience, we ignore His longsuffering and kindness toward us which bring us to repentance.

When I realized the depth of my sin, I became overwhelmed at the marvelous patience of God. I could recount all the times when it was only His kindness and patience that saved me from complete destruction. That beautiful forbearance is the mechanism He uses to make us tender-hearted people of grace. First, our hearts are softened toward Him and His commands, and we repent rather than rebel. Second, we become gracious towards other people, especially those who are living in open rebellion, because we know that we were once in rebellion, too.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Romans 2:1-11

INSIGHT
Father, help me to respond graciously to Your kindness to me. Bring about true repentance in my life. Amen

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Leviticus 14
Psalm 53
Luke 17

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