The Kindness of God

When I consider the kindness of God toward us, my heart is overwhelmed with thanksgiving. The knowledge that He granted repentance to me is precious indeed. His kindness, goodness and faithfulness are so intertwined with His mercy as to be one in One. While we were unlovable, He loved us. When we didn't even love ourselves, He had compassion on us. He saw us in our sins and set about to make a way to redeem us from our own folly. What love! The wonderful old song says...

"Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan,

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man,

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span - At Calvary!

Mercy there was great and grace was free,

Pardon there was multiplied to me,

There my burdened soul found liberty - At Calvary!"

From the outset, He created a beautiful universe - sun, moon, planets, stars, galaxies - all are evidence of His creative genius. The earth on which we roam is filled with wonders. Lush greens, beautiful blues, flowers of every hue, shape, size and scent, a wide variety of animal life, each with it's own contribution to the whole - and all this wonder and beauty was bestowed upon the object of His affection - man.

He gives men abundant blessings; family, friends and the joy and hope found in the laughter of children. Summer and winter and seed time and harvest; the seasons merge and with them tender, green shoots become fields of golden grain. Then comes the harvest when work is fast and furious and the rejoicing when the harvest is in the barn and there is rest for everyone and everything.

All nature reminds us of His love. Each season reinforces our understanding of His kindness toward us. He planned it that way... gentle nudges from eternity, beckoning, wooing, entreating.

The Bible says He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

• "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20, NIV)
• "...Thus saith the Lord, Turn ye even to Me with all your heart, with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your heart, and not your garments. Turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness..." (Joel 2:12-13)
• "With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." (Isaiah 54:8)
• "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:19-20)
• "...The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." (Romans 2:4)