Patience, Kindness, Goodness Series

Here is the key point for all of us today . . . . . . . when it comes to patience, kindness and goodness, remember this, it takes the power of God to produce the character of God.

Our church vision statement says it all – We are expecting God to achieve marvellous and wonderful things in people’s lives. Living the vibrant, God connected life is not about what you can achieve in your own strength - under your own steam.

1: Divine patience is unlimited

Whereas human patience has its limitations, God’s patience is unlimited – endless, infinite, boundless, immeasurable. You don’t need to “try harder” to be more patient. You can try as hard as you like, but it won’t happen. If you want a higher patience – you need to plug into a higher power.

God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

(Ex. 34:6, Nu. 14:18, Neh 9:17, Ps. 86:15, 103;8, 145:8; Jer. 15:15, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2, Nahum. 1:3)

Look at all the places these words are repeated in the Bible. And that’s just the OT! In the NT we read,

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:8-9).

Do you think we’re supposed to get the message that God is patient? And that God’s patience is so beyond our human capacity to conjure it up on our own; that the only way we are ever going to have it in our own lives is to reconnect and stay connected to God?

2: Divine kindness is unlimited

And like his patience, God’s kindness is not like human kindness. God’s kindness has no limits. God has set the supreme example of divine kindness by sending Jesus Christ.

But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy (Titus 3:4-5a).

Divine kindness comes from a heart that is remaining in Christ. Remember what Jesus said ...

If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).

3: Divine goodness is unlimited

And, God’s goodness is no different from his patience or his kindness in it’s measure – it is unlimited.

For those of you who know the Bible pretty well, when in the Bible did anybody ever encounter God—this holy transcending God—and come away saying: “You know, from a moral standpoint, I’m doing surprisingly well.” Did that ever happen in the Bible? Isaiah said:

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty" (Isaiah 6:5)

When he realized who Jesus was, Peter said:

Get away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man (Luke 5:8).

How can we be good? Only God is good. And we must get connected to him in order to show any level of goodness.

CONCLUSION

And so, in comparison to God we have no idea about patience, kindness or goodness.