Romans 2:4  Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? (CSB)

Romans 2:3, 4  You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. (MSG)

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Kindness is God’s attribute by which he does good. God’s good heart works his goodness into our lives to draw us to Himself. One of my evening prayers for some people who are dear to me is that they will find God’s grace irresistible and that God’s grace, mercy, and kindness will overflow into their lives, leading them to their source in Himself. 

God, in his kindness, does not say, “There, there, everything will be all right.” Instead, God, in his kindness, says, “Here is the way to make everything all right.” God does not excuse our sin but forgives it. He does not overlook our rebellion but corrects and redirects our behavior. 

Repentance on our part unlocks the riches of God’s kindness, his patience, and his goodness. Seeing our sin the way he does leads us to grace, mercy, and peace. It is an ultimate kind of good to agree with God about right and wrong, beneficial and harmful, good and bad. We unburden ourselves of unnecessary pains and problems when we agree with him and adjust our lifestyles to express his highest and best intentions for all humanity. 

Today is a good day to embrace and express God’s attributes of kindness, restraint, patience, and goodness. It is a good day to ask him to build these character qualities into our lives in increasing measure. It’s a good day to unburden ourselves and others from the unnecessary pains and problems of our disobedience. 

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I will ask God to build more of his goodness and kindness in me and to express this grace and mercy through me.

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