Consider This | God’s Patience | Abusing Patience

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?  Romans 2:4 

“I’m God’s little prodigal princess,” Laylah giggled as she finished recounting her story of drunkenness, immorality, and deceit. She shrugged, “I mean I’ve been a Christian since, like…forever. I’ve run off from Him over and over, but He keeps taking me back.” Pastor Jack nodded slowly as he studied her. “Prodigal princess, heh? Cute. So, what I’m hearing you say is that even though you’re a…uh, Christian, you can do pretty much whatever you please and God will shake his head, grin, and say, ‘Isn’t my little princess adorable as she blatantly dishonors me?’” Laylah blanched. “Oh…well…is that what I’m saying?”

That is what she’s saying and she won’t find any support for it in the Bible. Those who abuse the grace of God as though it was a “Get Out of Hell Free” card don’t understand either grace OR God. His patience is a high privilege we would do well to honor. Romans 6 is a chapter written for the Laylah’s of the world and reminds us that to be saved is to consider ourselves dead to sin. God has no “prodigal princes or princesses.” Our sin is not cute. God is a Father who watched His beloved Son tortured to death because of it. How do you think He feels when we take that suffering for granted? Does His patience with us mean that He thinks our sin is cute? It means that at great cost to Himself, He is holding back judgment to give us one more chance.

Final Thought:  Are you abusing the grace and patience of God?

Prayer: Father, this convicts me. I get lazy in my faith because you are so patient with me. I start to think my sins don’t matter, but they do. Please forgive me for the times I had Laylah’s attitude. I will no longer abuse your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.