A Prayer about God’s Just Judgment

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4

God our Judge,

Our culture is allergic to judgment, 

and yet, like the audience of Paul’s letter to the Romans, 

we’re a pretty “judgy” people. 

Open our ears to hear this Word 

that applies to us today: 

“Therefore, every one of you who judges 

is without excuse. 

For when you judge another, 

you condemn yourself, 

since you, the judge, do the same things” (Romans 2:3). 

The bottom line is we are blinded 

by our own sin and self-righteousness, 

and we have no business judging others. 

Lord, humble us, 

help us to see your kindness—

not “niceness” but kindness, 

your forbearance—your restraint in not unleashing your wrath on evil, 

your patience—your willingness to wait for us to turn from our sins. 

And may that kindness lead to true repentance, 

turning away from our selves 

or anything else we look to for salvation, 

turning to the only one who can judge justly 

because he took the judgment for our sins, 

our Savior Jesus Christ.

In his forgiving name we pray. Amen. 

Read Romans 2:1-5.