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Day 23: Romans 2/Psalm 42
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Thursday March 18, 2004
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Or 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 (New International Version)
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The
Kindness of God
There are two things which seem to be common among all human beings.
The first is that we all have a sense of right and wrong. The second is
that we seem more keenly aware of this sense of right and wrong when
others have wronged us than we are when we have wronged others. This
leads to one of the most stubborn and insidious habits of the human
heart, the habit of comparing ourselves to others, the habit of forming
some standard of right and wrong by which we turn out to be a little
more acceptable than the guy next to us.
“I may have a
problem with alcohol, but at least I’m no hypocrite!”
“I may not always tell the truth, but at least I go to church every
week.”
“I may gossip now and then, but I don’t gossip as much as she
does!”
It is exactly this
habit of the heart that Paul is pushing against in the second chapter
of Romans. He reasons that as long as we are satisfied with our
self-made standard--the one which allows us to see ourselves as “not so
bad after all,” then we will not be aware of our need for a savior. The
more you are convinced of your own superior moral standing, the more
“you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath,
when his righteous judgment will be revealed” (verse 5).
Even after we have
seen our need for a savior, it is easy to fall back into these false
comparisons, not realizing that each step of real growth for both
ourselves and for others is brought about by the kindness, tolerance
and patience of God.
Today’s
Prayer:
God, please help me to see the ways I evaluate myself and others.
Help me realize the comparisons I make that cause me to feel superior.
Help me to see that what I really need is your kindness, tolerance, and
patience.
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Memory Verse of the Week:
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that
came by Christ Jesus."
Romans 3:23-24 (New International Version)
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For a complete
listing of all the previous devotionals in this "50 Day
Experience," click here.
To read the chapter or psalm of the day online, click on one of the
following links:
o
Romans
2
o
Psalm
42
Greg Williams, williams@cincyvineyard.com,
Oversees a team of people who lead leadership and training, staff
development, volunteer mobilization, and connections ministries.
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