When someone says “God” what image comes to mind? Is it an all powerful angry being waiting above to thump you on the head or make things go badly for you, if you do the wrong thing? Are you convinced that you been so awful, gone so wrong, that He couldn’t possibly love or forgive you? Do you feel as if you’ve been picked on by the All Mighty? That’s not the image the Bible gives of our Creator.
Jeremiah 29:11 tells us what God thinks about us.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Child, God is not mad at you.
1 John 4:8 tells us that God not only loves but is love. “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
And there is the ultimate expression of God’s love.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 John 4:9 “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”
We call Him, Father, but we must be careful not to let the imperfect image of out earthly father overshadow who God truly is.
Luke 11:9-13 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Child, God is not mad at you, and he doesn’t want you to be afraid of Him.
Yes, I know the Bible says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” (Proverbs 9:10) But the word “fear” here means “respect” not knee knocking fright.
Like any good father, God will let you suffer the consequences of your own actions, although many Christians, including myself, have noticed that said consequences are often muted by God’s mercy. And like any good father, God will discipline His children.
Proverbs 13:24 “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”
Correcting one’s children takes time and effort. It would be much easier to allow them to do as they please, but of course, because we love them we take the time and put in the effort to discipline them properly. God does the same for us.
Proverbs 3:11-12 “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.”
Child, God is not mad at you.
In fact, He’s crazy about you, loves you, and wants to spend all eternity with you.
2 Peter 3:8-9 “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
God is not mad at you.
He has made a way for you to spend eternity with Him. It’s yours for the asking.
“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”
17 comments
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June 4, 2009 at 9:30 am
katdish
Thank you, Shawn. That was a beautiful post, and very much needed today.
June 4, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Shawn W
I’m glad it spoke to you, Kat. Thank you.
June 6, 2009 at 9:06 am
Vanity of Vanities!
I thought first that you were speaking to believers, and I reasoned that perhaps you meant that believers are not under wrath, but under mercy. But, the end of your post made me realize that you’re talking to non-believers as well. So, would you say that God never gets mad at people?
June 6, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Shawn W
No, I think the Bible makes it clear that the wrath of God exists, and He does get very angry sometimes. God’s anger is not like ours though. He is slow to anger, never holds a grudge, and forgives quickly. And don’t confuse the consequences of our actions with wrath. Sodom went down, because God could no longer tolerate the things that went on there, and people don’t go to hell, because they made Him angry, but because they reject salvation.
I think, for the most part, we just make Him very sad.
June 7, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Vanity of Vanities!
I see what you’re saying. But, I also find in the Bible that God is a consuming fire and there are some pretty terrifying images recounted numerous times in the Bible. God destroyed entire villages (men, women, children, and animals) in His wrath. He reduced a lady to a pile of salt, instantly killed a guy for touching the Ark, and empowered Elisha to summon bears that mauled some smart-mouthed teenagers. The bottom line is that sin is repugnant to God and those who choose not to accept the atoning blood of Christ will endure His wrath. So, if mad and wrathful mean similar things, then I would say that God is mad at some people.
I don’t mean to take away from what you’re saying in your post because I get your message and I agree with it in part. God’s love is infinitely more than we can imagine and I do cherish the beautiful, Biblical image of Christ standing at the door and knocking. He’s gentle and meek and He’s our Comforter and Healer. But, I always worry about people not getting the whole picture and just trying to embrace a warm, fuzzy god who is simply unscriptural. He is meek and gentle, but he’s also dangerous and terrifying.
June 8, 2009 at 1:11 am
Shawn W
Those who do not accept the atoning blood of Christ will suffer the consequences of thier choice. Just as those who worshiped idols or chose to disobey God did. God didn’t want Lot’s wife to become a pillar of salt. She is the one who looked back, after she was told not to. We can’t blame our own pride and stupidity on God.
I think we have to be careful to understand that God doesn’t want anyone to go to hell, or to suffer it here on earth, but when we refuse His loving protection and guidance we are left with exactly what we deserve.
I don’t think He is dangerous or terrifying. He is just and perfect, in ways we cannot even begin to understand. It’s the justice side of Him that we often find hard to bear. But I do agree that we need to rid our churches of the “milk toast” Jesus, who has been preached for too long, and get down to the truth of God’s power, and yes, His judgement.
June 13, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Stevo
I once heard it said: Mother is the word for God on the lips and in the hearts of all children. That’s about all I can contribute to this comment thread, my theological knowledge somewhat limited.
June 13, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Shawn W
Ahh! But see, Stevo, you do get it. God wants to be to us what the mother is to a small child. She is his/her whole world.
BTW, any man that can quote dialog from The Crow is all right with me.
June 13, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Stevo
Yes, The Crow but the original was from English novelist William Makepeace Thackeray.
June 13, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Shawn W
Every day, in spite of all my efforts, I learn something.
June 13, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Stevo
Knowing me is an education.
June 17, 2009 at 6:53 pm
willohroots
God has put His anger as far from me as east is from west. He loves me so He would die for me, no matter what i have done. Will i use this love to be a sinner? Probably. His Holy spirit will then show me my wrongs, i will repent , and he will forgive, but all through the process He will love me. My God sits on the Mercy seat. Thank you Jesus.
Shawn, i am going to print this out to give to some wounded seekers, great job.
June 17, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Shawn W
Thanks, it’s not often comments make me cry.
June 21, 2009 at 10:27 pm
christiankane
I still think that the best compact picture of God in the New Testament is in Romans 11 where Paul talks about considering “the goodness and the severity of God”. When you look through the Bible, you find that everything that is true of love in 1Cor 13 is abundantly true of God (mostly because God is love)… including things like how love does not rejoice in iniquity but in the truth. That’s my thoughts, anyway.
June 21, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Shawn W
And good thoughts they are too. Thanks for stopping in and reading.
August 24, 2009 at 5:39 am
thelittlefluffycat
Man, I claim that verse in Jeremiah all.the.time. Not just for me, but for others, too.
God is not mad at you. Good to remember.
August 24, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Shawn W
Me too LFC.
The first time someone said that to me, I cried so hard I thought I would burst.