Latest / The Daily Word / May 21 – It’s His Goodness That Leads Us
Transcript
- Cory Barnes: Well, happy May 21st. It's Pastor Jenny here, and we are in the Book of Romans. Today is Romans chapter two. And in case you missed it yesterday or it wasn't shared or maybe highlighted, the Book of Romans was written by Paul, of course, to the church in Rome and a little bit different from some of Paul's other books. where he would have been writing to a church that he helped to establish and plant. Paul did not actually plant this church, but rather he was preparing to go visit the church that had been planted there. So whereas some of his other letters, he's writing because he had already established them and he's writing because of some things he had heard, maybe some correction that needed to be brought to them. Maybe he's writing an encouraging word. Paul actually writes the book of Romans ⁓ in preparation for a visit. He's been well established in his journey, ⁓ missionary work we'll say, and he's really unfolds the gospel extremely well for the Roman Church who's going to be being established in their understanding. So, ⁓ don't know if you've ever heard of the term walking the Roman road, the Romans' road of ⁓ salvation. But this is why, because it's really one of the best laid out ⁓ doctrines and theology ⁓ just for salvation. a phenomenal book. So we're going to jump in today into chapter two, the book or the chapter itself, of course, kind of just starts off the header and my Bible at New King James says God's righteous judgment. I'm going ⁓ to really key in on verse four, but to give context, I'm gonna read the first four verses for us. So let me go ahead and read that. It says, therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge, practice the same things. What is it saying? Hey, you're judging someone else for what they're doing. when if you're judging them, odds are it's probably something you're doing too, or you've been guilty of the very same things you're judging another person for. Verse 2 picks up and says, we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? In other words, do you think, you know, you're watching someone else do it all the while you're doing it, you think you're going to get away with it? And then verse four is where I really want to key in on, or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Again, the Goodness of God is what leads you to repentance. There's a song we sing on Sundays that says, ⁓ your goodness, we recently sang it, your goodness ⁓ is running after me. Your goodness is running after, it's running after me. And really, that's coming out of Psalm 23, where surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life." So when we're looking at this verse four, not knowing that the goodness of God leads us to repentance, not really thinking of that song that we're singing, not that it can't apply. ⁓ But I wanted to highlight that because I thought maybe when some people read this today, I wonder if they thought of that song, how God's goodness is running after us. ⁓ And I will say maybe when we're stuck in a cycle, ⁓ of sin, I do think that God continues to run after us. But I think when God's goodness and His mercy chases after us, ⁓ He is faithful, He is good. But what I want to lean in on this today is a reminder to us that it is His goodness that leads us to repentance, and it's twofold. One, it's to remind us when We're walking in fellowship and communion with others, that it's not going to be us. We're not responsible. We are not the Holy Spirit. We're not to lead others through judgment nor conviction. We're not the ones that are supposed to convict others. ⁓ It's not our responsibility to do that for other people. And I think it's important to come back to this verse and remember that it is God who leads and draws us unto repentance. and therefore others unto repentance. So if you see someone who is struggling ⁓ in something, I hope first and foremost you're praying for them. Maybe it's a close friend, a brother, a spouse, coworker. I hope you're praying for them that they would know the depth and the breadth and the width of God's love for them because it is God's love that's gonna pull them. unto repentance. But maybe it's you today. Maybe you are ⁓ stuck in some sort of ⁓ sin, whatever that may look like. No matter how big or how small, we're going to get to Romans 3 tomorrow that talks about how no one has escaped. No one escapes. We've all fallen short. And we all have these moments where ⁓ we do fall short. And we all have needed Jesus and continue to need Jesus. And so, it's not going to be the shame and condemnation that pushes us away, but it's going to be His goodness that draws us to the feet of the cross and reminds us of who we are ⁓ because of the blood of Jesus. He came to serve us and to save us. So, it's the goodness of God. ⁓ So let us not be caught up today in judging others, ⁓ including ourselves. May we not judge ourselves. May we be reminded that there's a reason we needed a Savior. ⁓ There's a reason Jesus came and He came to connect us. He came to save us. He came to deliver us and to give us freedom. He came to heal us. So God is good. He is faithful. Jesus is good. And so let's not forget that He is worthy to be praised. and to lead us into all salvation. So let's thank him for his goodness and allow us to see others the way that he sees them. Well, Lord, we come before you today and we thank you, Jesus, for giving your life, for laying it down for us so that we could have new life in you, Lord, that we could be forever connected to you. God, as we go about our day and go throughout our week, ⁓ We recognize that we have weaknesses and those around us do have weaknesses as well. Lord, would you help us to have eyes to see them as you do, not through sin and brokenness and judgment, but Lord, would we see them through eyes ⁓ of love and knowing that Lord, just as verse four says, through your goodness, God, you have such long suffering towards us and towards them. And Lord, we're believing and trusting that it is your goodness that will continue to draw all men unto you and towards repentance. So Lord, we pray that those who are far from you would be drawn to you today. Lord, even those that are in close proximity to us, would we be able to minister to them, to share your love and your light with them today? Would we not be someone who stands in the way of sharing the light of Christ with them today? Thank you that you are speaking to us and that you're speaking through us. In Jesus' name, amen.