“It’s THROUGH His KINDNESS that LEADS us TO REPENTANCE
What incredible vision, insight and reward this verse carries. Within it, is what’s at the VERY HEART of Our Heavenly Father. We glimpse how He sees us and why He freely gives so much to us.
The writer Paul was talking about his LIFE CHANGING ENCOUNTER &
EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS, and also giving TESTIMONY to the multitude of lives he had seen drastically changed because people allowed these words to become alive and real. Paul’s lifestyle was a continual witness to others.
Paul lived and worked in Athens, he was part of them, but NOT INFLUENCED by THEM, their LIFESTYLE, WORDS or BELIEFS. In God’s timing Paul received the direction and words that were necessary to INFLUENCE & TRANSFORM A COMMUNITY to RECEIVE God’s Good News.
In Acts 17:23 we see this all changed the moment he spoke about the Scripture and gave revelation of the unknown God Jesus to all the people.
The interesting thing about this is we see this same lifestyle throughout the bible in those who TRIUMPH IN LIFE & LIVING FOR GOD. Joseph, Daniel and Esther, are a few and there are many more who lived authentic lives in the world, but not of the world, and the result was transformation came through their witness to people and nations FOR JESUS.
The Pharisees they could not get this, that’s why they missed seeing who stood in front of them, THE MESSIAH.
Could this be they same for us? Do we miss seeing and recognising the Messiah in our daily lives? I would have to say yes, but I believe we can see Him. We need to slow down and be in the moment to see Him in people, places and things around us.
For me personally I have started SEEING REWARDS & FRUIT OF LIVES transformed in those I lead and serve, by simply letting His kindness be seen through my words, actions and witness as I counsel, mentor and consult with ones.
Note, I’ve chosen the Passion translation as the version, because it’s translated from the Fathers perspective and heart, which is one of the main characteristic of our Heavenly Father.
Romans 2:4 (Passion Translation TPT)
“Do the riches of his extraordinary kindness make you take him for granted and despise Him? Haven’t you experienced how kind and understanding He has been to you? Don’t mistake His tolerance for acceptance. Do you realise that all the wealth of His extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance”?
Wow! Let’s break this verse down into bite size pieces.
- Do the RICHES OF HIS EXTRAORDINARY KINDNESS make you take Him for granted and despise Him? Paul is starting with the very things our Heavenly Fathers does. Did you know that our motives, heart, and even greatness testimonies can quickly become our weakness if used in the wrong way with the wrong motive? Because remember the gifts, experiences and encounters we have are not only for us, but for others, in essence they are for sharing and building up the body in Christ.
How about this thought! These gifts, experiences and encounters are actually the secondary thing which in the Lord’s eye is actually equal to the first! Wow! And that if we keep them His kindness and riches to ourselves, and don’t use them for others, this opens a door for us to actually take Him for granted or even despise Him. - Haven’t you EXPERIENCED HOW KIND & UNDERSTANDING HE HAS BEEN to you?
This next part is the same as the last question and centres around a heart conviction, and also is an example of the over all message of the Word ‘It’s through His Kindness that leads to Repentance’ the Lord through Paul is opening up the doorway to experience His amazing presence which is always centred in Love and Grace, which is who He is.
Every time we experience this Kindness and Grace we experience Him. This is why Jesus said “if you see Me you have seen the Father” (John 14:9) - Don’t mistake His TOLERANCE FOR ACCEPTANCE.
I love these words for they are a like a KEY & SHIELD, and a secret to being victorious in life and seeing transformation and forever change in others.
The Lord tolerates our sins.
Hmm what I mean is that He’s not standing there with his finger out pointing at them to shame and embarrass us, but He’s PATIENTLY AWAITING the RIGHT TIME to show them to us, while providing total grace, love in our wait, as He INVITES OR REVEALS to us a new and better way to do life, that has greater rewards when we exchange the old way for the new way.
This is what is called RELATIONSHIP OUT OF LOVE! This is what we get given by the Father a Forever Relationship Out of Love. - Do you realise that all the WEALTH OF HIS EXTRAVAGANT KINDNESS is meant to MELT YOUR HEART & LEAD YOU INTO REPENTANCE?
I’ve witnessed this ‘melting of the heart’ countless times through my obedience to being a REPRESENTATIVE & WITNESS of Jesus and our Heavenly Father. Through BUILDING Loving Solid RELATIONSHIPS in Christ, I’ve had opportunities presented to me where I get to love and show kindness to others, not point out their flaws and faults, but actually call out the original and authentic person the Lord created and deeply loves in them.
This is the privilege and blessing each one of us get to be as we call out the ‘gold we see or God shows us in another’ as they become all who He created them to be from the beginning. Also it’s these very ones who we choose to champion and encourage, that feel the courage and conviction to make a heart commitment to PRAYER, in the asking for help to get rid of the old ways, and to CONTINUE the JOURNEY to TRANSFORMATION, which happens before our very eyes. What a blessing that is, that Father God wants all of us to experience.
God’s message spoken through Paul, “It’s through His Kindness that it leads to Repentance” shows that when the Lord DIRECTS PEOPLE into our life it’s for us to be a WITNESS of Him and His Ways to them.
As we do this He will give us the PROTECTION & STRENGTH needed to open wide our doors and let them in. I know the Lord never closes the door to people, but His invitation to come to Him is never ending, so as a result I make a point to do the same. However we still need to be wise and to live with safeguards and boundaries up to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Please note this is kind and incredibly essential to being part of healthy and thriving relationships, homes and communities.
CHALLENGE TIME: Grab something yummy, your journal and quiet space to be with the Lord, write what He says in answer to these questions.
NOTE: In this time of asking the Lord to reveal who these people are to you.
Take your time, this is really important, for you will need to revisit this often, to pray for, and to declare from, as you champion these people to walk towards, who Father’s called them to be.
I also challenge you to sit with the above verse Romans 2:4 and ask Holy Spirit what else do you want to say and show me from this verse. Declare like Samuel as a young boy said, “I am listening Lord speak now” be expectant and know the Lord wants to speak to you. - Lord who are You directing & leading me towards, to be a witness for You?
- Lord would You STRENGTHEN ME IN ALL THE WAYS NEEDED, so I can journey
with these incredible people You’ve revealed. - ACTION TIME: He is waiting for a YES to His INVITATION.
Let Him lead you all the way, ask Him for the first step. Then do it, James says, “to hear is good, but to do is to obey” and also listen first, speak last, be quick to listen and slow to speak. As He says He gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth.
Remember this journey He’s inviting you to walk with others, is from a HEART OF COMPASSION not pity! Keeping this thought in mind will keep your heart in the right place with the right motive. - GIVE THANKS: In the good moments and the not so good. For the Lord is at work and take courage of the truth He is not afraid of mess, so we don’t need to be either. We were ALL ONE BIG MESS ONCE, and as it says the word message contains the word mess! Truth is we actually all still fall short of His glory and way, but that’s where His incredible GRACE steps in, according to the scripture.
“But take hope because He is our Author and Father. He is working in and through us to bring about His perfect plan”. Let’s pray, Father we ask would You release an even greater revelation of your Love to us & Your love for us today. Would you give us a TRUE ENCOUNTER OF YOUR KINDNESS & PRESENCE that reinforces the word you generously passed onto Paul, and to us today. We declare that it is through Your Love and kindness that we are both where we are and who we are. God TO YOU BE ALL THE GLORY, HONOUR and PRAISE. In Jesus name. Amen
