In the exercise of His common grace, God displays patience and forbearance with the world. But patience and forbearance ought to lead men and women to repentance. Instead, it emboldens the unbeliever in his sinful rebellion and mocking of God, and the patience of God is then turned into a rationale to rebel further against God. This does nothing more than store up greater judgment because of their ungodly response to His kind patience (Rom. 2:4-5).
Tabletalk, p. 10, vol. 28, no. 9, Ligonier Ministries, Used by Permission.
I think of all the questions that I ask the Lord, and then I think of my stubborn streak against Him; I think of my inability or refusal to learn. I think of how many times God shows me the way of righteousness and how I turn away. I think of my faltering and failing steps and my outright rebellion against Him – even as a believer. Oh the patience of God and the riches of His forbearance and grace!
Tabletalk, p. 11, vol. 28, no. 9, Ligonier Ministries, Used by Permission.