I’m Sorry, Lord, for My Arrogance

Reflect:

Two nights ago while listening to the message, there was one particular statement that struck me deeply: “God is loving but He is also holy.” I suddenly remembered the many times in the past year that I held on to the first clause only, which was convenient for me. That way, I could walk around entangled with sins and impurity, proudly pat my back and say, “God is loving.”  And truly, He is. But do I also believe that He is holy?

Romans 2:4 sent me reeling as it asked me almost poignantly, “do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” I realized that in keeping sin like a comfortable company, I was arrogantly presuming upon the richness of His tolerant and patient love toward me — that instead of His kindness leading me to repentance as He pardoned my sins through the cross of Christ, I used it as a convenient reason to excuse my sinful lifestyle. Instead of forsaking sin and striving for a holy life by His grace, I squandered His love to serve my own fleshly desires. What an audacious, shameless way of treating the loving nature and holiness of God. 

God is truly loving, and in His love, He sent His only Son to pay the price so that we can enjoy the fullness of that love, but also remember, that He required that same price, BECAUSE HE IS HOLY.

Respond:

God’s kindness gives us a daily dose of grace to repent, die to self, take up His cross and follow Him, and to live a holy life that He has called us to, empowered by the riches of His love, His grace, His kindness, and His patience toward you. 

At this time, He may have been sending His gentle nudges to you, perhaps through a concerned friend or a leader who lovingly corrects you. Yield to Him.