Best of December greetings to you and yours! May your gatherings be calorie-laden, your laughter be deep and often, and your family quarrels be non-existent!
Despise. I relate the word to hatred, a vehement distaste. I’ve not often used the word, but when I did, I was saying, “That’s the nastiest”
In reading Romans 2, Paul asked the Romans if they “despise” the riches of God’s goodness, tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads to repentance?
I wanted to see how Paul meant that word. (Enter Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).
The usage of despise in Romans 2:4 means to think down upon, or against someone…or to “think slightly of“
So the question could have been translated this way…”Do you think so little of God’s goodness, tolerance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads to repentance (the changing of the mind, changing the course of thoughts and actions)?”
The Holy Spirit, as the Bible’s author, (Read 2 Peter 1:21) asked the Romans how little they valued God’s goodness that they would continue to sin.
Today, I’m asking you the same question…with a different perspective.
“Do you think so little of God’s goodness that you live in condemnation, that you feel inadequate, that you feel like you’ll never measure up? Do you consider (so slightly) the price Jesus paid that you still think you’re not good enough?
What do we think we can add to the blood that was paid as our ransom? Why do we think we need to add anything?
But…if we ever feel condemned, we are not truly aware of how much good God has shown us. The only thing He requires of us is to love the way He loves.
Now, how in the world are we supposed to do that if we don’t understand the way He loves us?
If we have ever loved a child, no matter their messes, if we have ever longed for a child to know how much we love them…that is the way God loves us.
Do we truly know the greatness of God’s love that causes us to change the way we act and think?
Do we truly “get it” that God wrapped flesh around Himself so He could be tormented in order to have us as His kids
Well, He did. Let’s stop esteeming that so slightly that we think there’s more for us to do.
CHALLENGE! For 30 days ask God, “Show me how much You love me.” Pray that prayer. It’s in Ephesians 3. It is His will that we know, that each of us and all of us KNOW <– that means “experience” the love of Christ, so that we can be filled with ALL the fullness of God.
I dare you. He wants you to know. Be a present to Him as you celebrate His birthday “God, please show me how much You love me.”
Let me know what happens!
For His Glory 