Kindness

Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4

Back in the day, people would stand on corners with sandwich boards or on a “soap box” and preach hell, fire, and brimstone. They would yell out to the passersby that they should repent or go to hell. While this is true, I can’t find a place in the Bible where Jesus did it – because He never did. 

We don’t need to preach hell more than we need to share the love and kindness of God with people. The verse above in the New Living Translation reads this way; Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? How wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you! Wow! That’s a profound statement.

Jesus did everything within relationship! He was a personable and hands-on person. Even when he healed strangers, he interacted with them first. This is our model for witnessing and discipleship. It’s supposed to be an interaction, a conversation, an ongoing personal touch, if possible. 

We can indeed be on a mission trip and touch the lives of strangers for Jesus, then never see them again. But when we leave the area, there should be a church or pastor that becomes the personal contact, and the relationship can flow there.

It’s His kindness that leads us to repentance. Has God ever beat you black and blue over your sin? No, because that’s not His style. He desires that none should perish but all come to repentance and experience His lavish love and graciousness (2 Peter 3:9).