DAY 143 – GOD’S GOODNESS AND GRACE LEADS US TO REPENTANCE

By Pastor Wilberforce Bezudde

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

For God to be patient and silent does not mean He is indifferent, but He desires to give opportunity to the whole world to repent.

2 Peter 3:9 declares that; “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”.

It is not by our effort to repent, but only His goodness leads us to repentance. In Greek ‘Metanoia’, meaning; a total transformation of thought, attitude, outlook and direction. Repentance simply means; change of thinking. To change how we view God and His grace. To stop thinking our way and think like God. Repentance is not toward our sins but toward the goodness of God. When the goodness of God is realized, then repentance comes, not repentance and then the goodness of God.

We see a very clear illustration of repentance and forgiveness in Luke 15:20-21, when the lost son came back home. He found forgiveness already waiting for him in the arms of his father. The Bible says in Luke 15:20; “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

That is the goodness of the father embracing a sinner, and then we see goodness leading a sinner to repentance (transformation). Verse 21 says; “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son”. Jesus is Lord!

Today’s Prayer
My Heavenly Father,

Thank You, for Your unconditional love and grace. I am humbled at Your patience with me. Dear Lord Jesus, Your unlimited perfection that can never be stained by my imperfection has made me perfect. I put my faith in Your finished work; I am confident that all my sins are permanently forgiven. Sanctify and purify me daily, I consecrate my life to Your word. Show me Your ways and teach me to walk in them. I say no to the lies of the devil, I will only believe Your awesome truth, now and always. Amen.

(Study 1 John 2:2 and Titus 2:11)