God is kind but not soft

Romans 2:4 - THE MESSAGE

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.

I recently came across this scripture in the "Message" (a transliteration of Scripture in modern speech) and thought it would make an awesome topic to blog. God is kind but not soft.

What do you see when you close your eyes and picture God? What characteristics do you think of when you hear someone say "God"? "God is good!" followed by a response of "all the time!" is a familiar cheer among believers. What does "good" mean? Does it mean he gives you everything you think you need or want? Is He a "good Dad" who, because of His goodness, tends to spoil His children because we remind Him that He is supposed to give us the desires of our hearts.

May this Scripture remind us that He has our best interests at heart. A great example of this is when a rebellious two year old child is fighting to get away from mom as they walk through a busy parking lot. It would take the Jaws of Life to remove her hand from clasping his. Is this because she is just trying to exercise her authority over him? Any one with good sense knows it is for the child’s own good; however, consider the thoughts of the child. He is fighting her with all his might in order to go his own way. Sound familiar? He is fighting because he doesn’t think he is a baby and just needs his independence.

We would be wise to hold on tight to the hand of God because the “traffic” we are in is dangerous and only He knows the safe way through it to the destination.

I will leave you with this thought I love from this Passage.

Better think this one through from the beginning.

Just a thought,
Pastor Justin