Bring Them Back: Devotions From Time of Grace MinistryÖrnek

THE HEART OF GOD: PATIENCE

"Revenge is a dish best served cold." Those words first appeared in the novel "Mathilde" by French author Marie Joseph Eugène Sue and were quoted approvingly in movies like "The Godfather," "Star Trek II," and "Kill Bill." The point is that your vengeance will be more effective if you go slow, brooding and planning.

God calls himself "slow" as well. But the slowness is not in his brain processes or his revenge fantasies, but in his temper. He is patient with foolish sinners like you and me, giving us time to hear his diagnosis of what's really wrong with us and to hear what he has done about it. "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love" (Psalm 103:8).

People with hair-trigger tempers usually aren't very thoughtful. Impulsive people usually aren't known as planners. Your God goes slow because he is patient and wants as many people in his heaven as he can draw in.

A day of accountability is indeed coming. If you are reading this, there's still time to bring them back.