Kind But Not Soft

ByJim Stephens

Reading:  Romans 2; Psalm 60

3 You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? 4 Or did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? 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. (Romans 2:3-4 MSG)

Here’s a fact: We humans tend to be spiritually myopic! Myopic means nearsighted or short-sighted. When you get to be my age, you can also become presbyopic! Presbyopia (Old Eyes) is an inability of the eye to change focus from far to near due to loss of elasticity in the eye’s lens. My eyeglasses are made to correct my myopia and give me clear distance vision, but they’re also formed to allow me to see both near and far. I’d be nearly helpless without them! Thankful!

We can be Myopic about our image of and attitude toward God! We can shortsightedly see God as being only interested in us and forget that God loves the world so much that he loves everyone else exactly as much as he loves us! We can also be presbyopic in our image of and attitude toward God! We can so focus on God’s righteousness and judgment that we forget that God is kind, gracious and full of mercy. Or we can become so focused on God’s generosity, mercy, and kindness that we forget that God is righteous and holy. You know what I mean?

Each person is accountable for what he or she does with the opportunities, resources, and blessings God gives. You can’t divert attention from yourself by pointing your finger at someone else. God deals with each person as an individual and takes into account all the factors people know about and the factors they don’t. And God is interested in radical life-change, not rational excuse-making.

This scripture reminds me that God doesn’t allow himself to get distracted from working to bring about radical life-change in me. No matter what excuses I may offer, or how I may point at someone else and say, “But what about him?” God is working on me and he “…pays no attention to what others say (or what you think) about you. He makes up his own mind.” (Romans 2:11 MSG)

Prayer:

Father, I’m sorry for the times I waste your time and mine comparing myself to others. I embrace your kindness (not softness!) that takes me firmly by the hand and leads me into a radical life-change. Please don’t give up on me and my friends! Amen.