The love and nature of God is so opposite to the world in which we live! The world finds a fault in another and determines to cancel them from all things, as though they themselves are faultless. But, in God, there is mercy and forgiveness, second and third chances… “He’s not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” - 2 Peter 3:9. Our world needs more Jesus, and less cancel culture!
The world has mastered the art of quick rebuttals that sting; getting in the last word… the strongest response that silences another. But, our “Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” - Psalm 103:8. So often, it is God’s tender words that crack open the hardened heart, or His unmerited grace given to the cold hearted, that turn hearts towards Him. David proclaimed it well - “Your loving kindness is better than life! Oh how I will praise You!” - Psalm 63:3.
This misconception that God is too soft to be strong, or the other - too much of a disciplinarian to be kind, is false. He’s both a Lamb and a Lion. His goodness towards us is reflective of a Father’s love, both loving and protective, but the world hasn’t learned from Him that meekness is not weakness. It is strength under control-exactly what the world is not.
“So when you, a mere human, pass judgment on others, yet do the same thing, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” - Romans 2:3, 4
Friends, in order to have a daily testimony that is noticed by the world, we must reflect His kindness, His patience, and His willingness to forgive. It takes great strength to show these things in the face of rudeness, lies and verbal attacks, it even brings contempt, but your kindness will be noticed and appreciated and it will draw people to the reason “Why” we can be sweet in a sour world, and light in so much darkness.
May we keep our faces turned toward Him, not the world, so it is Him we reflect. His loving kindness matters in a world desperate for it. It will draw them to repentance.
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