BEING CONDONED OF SHORTCOMINGS—DEFECTS IN CHARACTER

"YOU SURELY DON'T THINK MUCH OF GOD'S WONDERFUL GOODNESS or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. DON'T YOU KNOW THAT THE REASON GOD IS GOOD TO YOU IS BECAUSE HE WANTS YOU TO TURN TO HIM?"
Romans 2:4 (Contemporary English Version)

"DON'T YOU REALIZE HOW PATIENT HE IS BEING WITH YOU? Or don’t you care? Can’t you see that he has been waiting all this time without punishing you, TO GIVE YOU TIME TO TURN FROM YOUR SIN? HIS KINDNESS IS MEANT TO LEAD YOU TO REPENTANCE."
Romans 2:4 (the Living Bible)

• When someone started out in walking with God—living a consecrated life, working for Him, or being a vessel in His hands—God may condone or permit a number of things that might not be right or good enough in the life of the person.

• However, after a period of time, God would expect the person to move up in the building of his or her character.
• God would want the person to change, forsake those things he or she used to do that were not right—which God did condone or permit because of his or her immaturity. Now that the person has known the truth, the right thing to do, God will expect the person to change.
• Unfortunately, a number of those who come to God usually do allow gratifications. They always had the thought that since God did not talk or reprimand them on those things, that means it is all right to continue in them.
• If God accepted you regardless of your shortcomings, do not think those things which He condone in your life are right. - He did accept you with the hope that you will turn a new leaf. It does not mean those things you have been doing, are right, and you should continue in them.

• A brother
A brother who was attending the church I was pastoring a number of years ago; he did experience the good hands of God on his business. In fact he bought a car, a landed property to build a house, and some other blessings of God.
As at the time, he was not faithful in Giving, that is, in tithings and other financial commitments in the church. WHEN he left, he experienced some challenges and setbacks. Afterwards, I saw him and the wife, they were sharing some of their challenges.
THE wife said, prior to the setbacks, a minister of God told her husband that he should be faithful in tithings and other financial commitments, but he shrugged the advice of the minister.
SHE said, he, the husband responded and said when he was attending so and so church, that is, the church I was pastoring, he was not paying tithes and was not committed in Giving, yet, God was blessing him. That the wife should forget about what the minister said.

• Now, God was condoning what he was doing that was not right at the time, but now thought it was a normal thing to do.
• In his view or thought, one can be a believer and not be faithful in financial commitments in his or her local church and still be experiencing God's favour and blessings in what he or she is doing.
• But he did not know that God may have permitted that because of a number of reasons:
  a. God did permit that because of his level of growth in spiritual things, that is, his understanding in the knowledge of God and His ways.
  b. God may also have permitted because of the grace and covenant under which he was then.
  c. Another thing is, God may have permitted that because he was at the right place of covering, where God planted him and wanted him to be.

• Whatever you are doing, that might not be in line with the Scripture, which God did condone or permit in your life, should not therefore be assumed to be a right or a normal thing to be doing.

• God did permit that in your life for a number of reasons that might not be known to you at the time, because of your level of maturity.
• God does want you to grow and outgrow the babyhood, the childishness, in your Christian life.
• He does not want you to remain at that babyhood or immaturity level even after you have known the truth.
• If you did remain at the level, you did allow complacency, God would not hesitate to introduce Discipline—chastisement, a tougher hands in handling you. That you might move up spiritually and not be condemn with the world (1 Corinthians 5:5).
• If a believer judges himself or herself, such would not be condemned with the world: "FOR IF WE WOULD JUDGE OURSELVES, WE WOULD NOT BE JUDGED" (1 Corinthians 11:31 NKJV).

• Do not take God's goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering for granted.

• Respond to the Word of God you are being taught, and change from those excesses that God has permitted in your life overtime—over a period of time.
• If the time of grace given to you elapses, God may have to change the pattern with which He handles your case.
• Remember, it is always good to see His good side, the side of blessings and favour. If God changes His face, it may not be palatable and would not be a business as usual.
  May the Lord give you understanding.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body as you read this piece, receive your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  The hold is completely broken and will never rise again in Jesus' precious name.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!