The Kindness of God

We mis­used this com­mand to “Con­sider the kind­ness and Sever­ity of God” yes­ter­day in our meet­ing. We were try­ing to see how God is kind to us, as well as severe at the same time… well, he may dis­ci­pline, (which is his Love for us as chil­dren) but that is in no way the sever­ity that Paul is talk­ing about:

Romans 11:19–24

19 You will say then, “Branches were bro­ken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbe­lief they were bro­ken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the nat­ural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 There­fore con­sider the good­ness and sever­ity of God: on those who fell, sever­ity; but toward you, good­ness, if you con­tinue in His good­ness. Oth­er­wise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not con­tinue in unbe­lief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted con­trary to nature into a cul­ti­vated olive tree, how much more will these, who are nat­ural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be igno­rant of this mys­tery, lest you should be wise in your own opin­ion, that blind­ness in part has hap­pened to Israel until the full­ness of the Gen­tiles has come in.

You don’t want God’s sever­ity! Have Faith! Don’t become haughty, but fear! Con­tinue in his kindness!

Con­sider Paul’s prayers for the Ephesians: