THE UNLIKELY GAME CHANGER

Romans 2:4 - "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" 
There have been moments that we as Christians have looked lightly on the kindness and tolerance and patience of the Lord.  I know at times it feels like...if I don’t judge the sin in a person’s life I am condoning it.  If I show kindness and tolerance and patience to the person who is sinning they will just keep sinning, right?  (Pregnant Pause)  God is so holy He can’t tolerate sin, right?
That sounds good, but the reality is we all struggle with sin, even believers.  And once I made Jesus Lord of my life, there is a oneness with the Father that is present even in this fallen world and even when I sin.   How does He tolerate me? I get what we are trying to say, but it doesn’t completely add up.  And so I think it is time to revisit mercy and kindness and patience with those who struggle with sin.
Showing kindness or tolerance or patience doesn’t mean you don’t speak the truth, and it doesn’t mean there are not consequences.  I can think of the heartache my siblings and I put our parents through.  There were definitely consequences and “come to Jesus” moments.  But when I think back on those times, what I truly remember was their patience and their loving kindness.  
I think God gives people (including the believer) the time and opportunity to change.  It is a scary and yet humbling thought, but I believe we as the church must not be afraid of using tolerance and kindness with the sinner, because when “ad-MINISTERed” with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it can be a game changer and a true heart changer!