²² Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. ²³ And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. ²⁴ You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.

Grace: Kind & Severe

I think this is one of the best passages to help understand the power of God’s grace. It provides us with an incredible description of what it means to live under the grace of God. It means we have the choice. The freedom. The will to submit to God or to do it our own way.

We don’t like the word “severe.” We don’t want to use it to describe God. It’s because we read a word like severe and we think of “meanness.” We think of it negatively. We read this passage as if we think Paul is saying, “Look, God is a pretty cool guy. I mean, he’s really nice. But, wow, if you piss him off, then he can really lose it. And when God loses it, he goes nuts. He’s really severe in how nasty he gets.”

But I don’t believe Paul is saying that. I don’t believe the Bible teaches that God is like that.

I read this passage by understanding severe as “uncompromising.” “Decisive.”

In other words, those who reject God’s offer of grace and dismiss his desire to be in relationship are simply granted their wish. God is uncompromising in cutting those people off from relationship with him. It is a clean, clear break. It is severe.

And yet, because he loves us so much, he always holds out hope that we will repent of our decision. We will turn back and call out to him. And if we do, he responds again by bringing us back into his fold. Into his family. Does that sound severe?

You see, there are a few things we must understand. If we choose to reject grace, we can’t then get upset with God for granting us our wish to be separated from him. It’s our choice. We can’t say, “Okay, you’re God, I’m not.” And then expect to do things our own way. Do whatever we choose to do.

God is uncompromising. There is no room for negotiations. It is his way. He’s God. His kindness and grace welcome us into his family and invite us to experience all that he has planned for us in this life, but it must be done his way. That is a God who is both kind and severe.

My prayer: Lord, may I never take for granted your grace. Not just what it cost you in order to pay the price for my sin, but what it means to live for you. It means submitting my will completely to yours. To recognize that you are a God who is “all in.” There is no compromising. No “half-way” with you. I understand that. And I choose you. Amen.

Until tomorrow.