Romans 2

Yesterday, I almost wrote about Romans 1, but I felt a stronger need to write about leadership. I’m so glad I didn’t, I feel like reading Romans 1 without reading Romans 2 could be dangerous. Paul lists a bunch of sins in Romans 1:18-32. And if we stop there, it’s easy to judge others and become like the Pharisee we learned about in Luke 18:9-24. It’s easy to point fingers and say, “Well, at least I’m not like those people.”

Reading Romans 2, Paul calls us out. As a Christ follower, it’s not my job to condemn; Christ loves everyone. In verse 2, he says that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. I’ve failed miserably at a lot of things, I haven’t been a great example, and I’ve lived for myself. I thank God for how wonderfully kind, patient, and tolerant He is with us. I’m so thankful that God’s forgiveness is greater than my failures, and His great kindness turns us from sin.

I call to mind Matthew 7:1-5, and need to get the redwood logs out of my own eyes, before I talk about someone else’s speck in theirs.

God has perfect justice; He knows everything about everyone. I don’t know my own heart, much less someone else’s. Do we know someone’s complete story, the battles, the trauma they may have faced? Do we know their family tree? What’s shaped them? We can’t see a person’s entire story; we might see only a paragraph or a page of their life. We need to approach everyone with empathy and kindness. In verses 7 and 8, we learn what’s a little farther along the path we walk.

‘⁷He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.  ⁸But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. ‘
Romans 2:7-8

We have to make our relationship with Christ our top priority; His love is for everyone. We have to keep seeking, keep on asking, keep on knocking. We have to Keep On, Keeping On. We have to pray for those who don’t know Christ to turn to God and be a light shining for Jesus. To face the anger and wrath of God is terrifying. Thankfully, Christ’s heart is always open and ready for forgiveness.

Heavenly Father. We need you. We are helpless without you. Help us to repent, accept your love, die to ourselves, live for Christ, like Christ, and show the love of Christ to someone today. Lord, guide our thoughts, words, and actions. Protect us from evil and keep our eyes fixed on you. In our Risen Savior’s Name, Jesus. Amen.