Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
April 28, 2024
Romans 2:1-11
1 So every single one of you who judge others is without any excuse. You condemn yourself when you judge another person because the one who is judging is doing the same things. 2 We know that God’s judgment agrees with the truth, and his judgment is against those who do these kinds of things. 3 If you judge those who do these kinds of things while you do the same things yourself, think about this: Do you believe that you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you have contempt for the riches of God’s generosity, tolerance, and patience? Don’t you realize that God’s kindness is supposed to lead you to change your heart and life? 5 You are storing up wrath for yourself because of your stubbornness and your heart that refuses to change. God’s just judgment will be revealed on the day of wrath. 6 God will repay everyone based on their works. 7 On the one hand, he will give eternal life to those who look for glory, honor, and immortality based on their patient good work. 8 But on the other hand, there will be wrath and anger for those who obey wickedness instead of the truth because they are acting out of selfishness and disobedience. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 10 But there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 11 God does not have favorites.
Good Morning! God’s kindness leads us to change our hearts and lives!
7 On the one hand, he will give eternal life to those who look for glory, honor, and immortality based on their patient good work.
As flawed beings, patience is one of our greatest struggles. Most of us have some part of our lives with which we have tremendous patience. It might be gardening or farming, for which patience is a virtue. Most teachers have great patience for their students, or they quickly discover this may not be their calling. Parents and caregivers are called to display great patience when those in their care push, pull, twist, turn, and even kick and scream at things with which they don’t agree.
I had a sweet teacher friend, who has gone on to glory, who used to say, never pray for more patience because God would give you ample opportunity for practice. It’s funny, but it’s not wrong.
I am reminded of the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” On our best days, we most likely exhibit some or even most of these, but it’s a stretch to think that we, God’s children, can be all of these all the time.
All we can do is try our best and pray to God to help us in our frailty. Dare I say, “God give me “patience” with my own ineptitude!” I remember a friend telling me that patience comes from the Latin root “patientia,” which also means suffering.
Gracious God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. We pray that the Holy Spirit can mend and fix our brokenness. We’re sorry that we need constant fixing. We thank you! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Strive for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
When you fail, Try again! Pastor Liz