In those moments when we are overwhelmed by our flesh and failure, we must recall the kindness of God that saved us from our foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved, malicious, envious, hateful hearts (Titus 3:3-7). We must recall that when we were enslaved to sinful desires, it was the kindness of God that led Him to pour out His Spirit upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:6). It is the kindness of God, not His severity, that leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4).
It is the gentle and tender yet all-powerful voice of the “Friend of Sinners” (Matt. 11:28-30) not the thunderous and ominous voice of the Lawgiver (Exodus 19, 20:18-21; 34:29-35) that moves the believer’s heart to confess sin and long for God. We must hear the voice of God calling to us in the Gospel, otherwise we will be like Adam and Even who hid in fear (Gen. 3:10) or like the Children of Israel who stood at a distance in fear (Ex. 19:21). --John Fonville
