罗马书2:4向我们显明我们以及众人悔改的途径——那就是藉着神的恩慈。
但我们常常以为，对审判的惧怕是导致悔改的原因。“只要我们让人们知道他们有多坏，他们就会悔改。”我们会这样想。或许，如果我们能让他们知道自己行为的后果，比如一些负面的结局，或者最终落入地狱的刑罚，那么他们就会悔改，是不是这样？
但是，真正通往悔改的道路与此截然不同。正正相反，神对我们是仁慈的。祂耐心地等待着我们认识到祂的仁慈。神不但没有向我们展示我们犯罪的后果，反而阻止了我们犯罪的后果——至少是许多最糟糕的后果。阻止最坏的后果就是宽容。 神宽容我们，直到我们看见祂的恩慈的心。
正是神的恩慈引领我们走向悔改。神是我们的榜样，祂挑战我们以某种方式宽容忍耐他人不悔改的态度。我们没有资格评判他们或强加给他们后果。事实上，也许，我们应该像基督一样，和别人共同承担他们犯罪的后果。我们应该显出神对我们的仁慈、忍耐和宽容。
亲爱的耶稣，这世上仍然充满了邪恶。请帮助我们忍耐宽容他人，就像你忍耐我们一样。阿们。
罗马书 2:1-4
1你这论断人的，无论你是谁，也无可推诿。你在什么事上论断人，就在什么事上定自己的罪，因你这论断人的，自己所行却和别人一样。
2我们知道这样行的人，神必照真理审判他。
3你这人哪，你论断行这样事的人，自己所行的却和别人一样，你以为能逃脱神的审判吗？
4还是你藐视他丰富的恩慈、宽容、忍耐，不晓得他的恩慈是领你悔改呢？
"Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" - Romans 2:4
Romans 2:4 reveals the path by which we and others come to repentance. It’s all because of God’s kindness.
But too often we assume that the threat of judgment is what leads to repentance. “If only we can show people how bad they are, then they will be sorry,” we think. Or perhaps if we can show them the consequences of their actions—like some negative life outcomes, or the ultimate punishment of going to hell—then they will repent, right?
But the path to repentance is quite different. Instead, God is kind with us. And God waits patiently for us to notice his kindness. And rather than showing us our consequences, God actually holds back our consequences—at least many of the worst ones. Holding back consequences is called forbearance. God forbears with us until we see his kindness.
It is God’s kindness that leads to our repentance. God’s example challenges us to somehow forbear with other people’s unrepentant attitudes. It’s not our place to judge them or bring about their consequences. In fact, perhaps, like Christ, we ought to help bear others’ consequences. We should show the kindness, patience, and forbearance that God has shown us.
Dear Jesus, this world is still full of vices. Help us to endure in forbearing with others, just as you have endured with us. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
