God’s kindness leads you to repentance ...

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Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment is in accordance with truth against those who practice such things. And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment? 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? -Roman 2:1-4 NLT

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Self-righteousness is one of the nastiest demeanors that a believer can have. I should know. In days gone by I often played the role of Pharisee looking down on others and judging them for the things that they did. I look back with shame at the attitude that I carried. I did not really understand that my judgment of others was creating a condemning sickness in my soul. Thanks be to God that I was forced to change. As my life got harder I had to let go of my judgment.

In my former years I could quote you the verse that tells us that "God’s kindness leads you to repentance". Yet I did not really understand that often God expresses his kindness through us. Kindness is the opposite of judgment. One cannot carry judgment in their hearts and then be the loving and kind presence of God to another. In contrast the Lord would have us to forbear and be patient with each other. For we do not really know how God is working in another's heart.

We need you so much Lord. Please drive every shred of self-righteousness from us. Help us to be kind.

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