God's character is defined by love, not anger or a desire to punish. He demonstrates his love through sending his son Jesus to die for humanity's sins. As Christians, we can develop an understanding of God's loving personality by studying the Bible, following godly teachings, and having a personal relationship with him. While God disciplines those he loves, the discipline is meant to guide us closer to him, not destroy us due to anger. God wants us to know and experience his love and grace.

1. An Angry God? – 27th
July 2016
“Myson, do notmake lightofthe Lord’sdiscipline,anddo notlose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplinestheone he loves,and he chastenseveryone he accepts as hisson.”
(Hebrews 12:5-6).
Many people simplydonotknowthe true characterof God, leavingthemwithdeepquestionsand
anxiousconcerns suchas is God angry withme,withhumanity?IsHe lookingtodestroythose whocross
Him?DoesHe enjoypunishingpeople?Questionsandconcernslike these are legitimate formany
Christiansandthose searchingfortruth.It ishard to move forwardinfaithwithoutthe rightanswers.
LearningGod’scharacter and developinganunderstandingof whoHe istakespurposeful effort andit
will nothappenovernight.Ittakesdiligence tofindthe answerstothe questionsthatare mostprevalent
aboutHim. What isHis personality?Whatare His expectations?How doesHe respondtoour mistakes?
DoesHe trulylove us?
We can finda deepunderstandingtothe above quarrywhenwe readfromone of the mostknown
Scriptures where itsays:“ForGodso lovedthe worldthat he gave his one andonly Son,that whoever
believes inhim shall notperish but have eternal life”(John3:16).This Scripture provides usaninsight
intothe character of God.His character isnot one of hate or anger butof loving andsacrifice.He wants
to blessnotcurse.He demonstratesthisthroughthe givingof Hissonto die as an atoningsacrifice for
the sinsof mankind,sothatthey wouldnothave to pay the price themselves.This will certainlynotbe a
showor anger butclearlya showof absolute love formankind.We canalsolearnthat God Himself isthe
definitionof love whenwe read 1 John4:8, “Whoeverdoes not love doesnot know God,because God
is love”.
To knowGod’s character,people have todesire Him, toseekHimthroughprayer,worshipHim, and
study and learnfromreadingandmeditationon the Bible…abookwhichwasinspiredbyGod. As
Christianwe mustfollowgodlyteachingandmentorshipand carefullyfollow HisteachingsasHisspirit
speakstoour hearts.To knowGod, one mustbe discontentuntil youknow yourGod,whatHe’slike,
whatHe likes,whatHe doesn’tlike,whatHe said andveryimportantly whatHe hasn’tsaid. What kind
of thingswouldHe say?What kindof thingswouldHe definitelynotsay? Thisknowledgeisveryrelevant
todaybecause there isso muchvillainyandevil inthe worldtodaythateventhe bible is
misappropriated forundue gain.Thereforeitisimportantthatwe learnas muchas we can about Him.”
KnowingGod’scharacteralsoteachesus that God isholy. We can learnfrom where Jesusistellingus
that He hassolvedourgreatestproblem;fulfillingthe requirementsof God’slaw aswe readfrom
Matthew 5:17-19, “Donot think that I have come to abolishthe Law or the Prophets;I have not come
to abolishthem butto fulfill them.Fortruly I tell you, until heaven andearth disappear,not the
smallestletter, not the leaststroke ofa pen, will by any means disappearfromthe Law until
everything isaccomplished.Therefore anyonewho sets aside one ofthe leastof these commandsand
teaches others accordinglywill be calledleast in the kingdomofheaven, but whoever practices and
teaches these commandswill be called great in the kingdomofheaven.” AsChristianswe know that
sinseparatesusfromGod and thus itis impossible forustoread heave onour ownaccord! But whatis
impossible forhumanstodo,Jesushasdone by Hissacrifice tosave us from eternal damnation.
However,He alsotellsusthatin followingHimwe mustpractice a healthyspirituallifestyle. Whenwe
fail to complythisimportantrequirement,we dishonorGod.Onthe otherhand,livinginunisonwith
God’sdesignhonorsHimand placesHimuponthe throne of our heart.

2. We can alsolearnfrom Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect,therefore,asyourheavenlyFatherisperfect”Again,
it isan impossibilityforusto be perfectaswe fall shortof His requirementforus. However, we have
beengiventhe Gospel of the GoodNewsforour salvationthatJesusbroughttothisworld.Itshowsus
that He isnot “angry’but that God is alsowillingtoteachus throughoutourlivessothatwe come closer
to Him anddevelopapersonal relationshipwithHim…forever!.Itisaboutstrivingtobe more like Him,
and whenwe do,He leadsusforward.
ChristiansrefertoGodas the Fatherand usas Hischildren.Asmuchas a parentwouldDisciplineour
children,GodDisciplinesusinmanyways.One wayHe bringsabout discipline forusisbygivingus10 of
Gods commandsthat we are requiredtofollow. We canlearn more about Godsdisciple whenwe read
Hebrews 12:4-13. We can learnfrom Verses5-7that specifically states:“Myson,donotmake light of
the Lord’s discipline,anddonot lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplinestheone
he loves, andhe chastens everyone he accepts as his son”(Hebrews12:5-6). AsHis Children weneed
not be scaredof the Lord. He isnot out toget or destroy us,nor isHe waitingforan opportunityto
condemn usbut desiresthe best. Insteadof believingthatGodis “angry” we can learnfroma great
advice to usfrom Psalm100:1-3, “Shoutforjoy to the LORD, all the earth. Worshipthe LORD with
gladness;come before himwith joyful songs.3
Knowthatthe LORD is God.It is he who made us,and we
are his; we are hispeople, the sheep of hispasture”.
As muchas God’s discipline isareality,soisHislove.God’sdiscipline, inthe lightof Hislove,isgrace.
ThroughHis discipline,we learntoavoidspiritual,emotional,relational,andevenphysical harm. We can
learnthisfrom Titus 2:11-13, “Forthe grace ofGod hasappeared that offerssalvationto all people.It
teaches us to say ‘No’to ungodlinessandworldlypassions,andtolive self-controlled,uprightand
godlylivesin this present age, whilewe waitfor the blessed hope—theappearingofthe gloryof our
great Godand Savior,Jesus Christ”
Jesushascoveredandpaidthe price forour sinsthroughHis deathand resurrection.He hassavedus.
God’sgrace is Hisfavor onour lives. ThroughHisgrace,we fall more inlove withHimand that makesus
fall “outof love with whatthe world”andall its evil enticements.He iswalkingwithuseverydayat
everymoment.He islove.His ‘anger’isjustandis expressedasdiscipline inourlives.He will judgeall
personsfortheiractions,however,thatisfora time afterthis.Therefore,until thenwe walkinHislove
and grace,and learnfromHis discipline sothatour livesbringpraise andhonortoHis name. Andwhen
that day of judgmentcomes,we hearfromHisvoice of love thatwill say:“ Well done,good andfaithful
servant! Youhave been faithful witha few things; I will putyou in charge ofmany things.Come and
share your master’shappiness!’ (Matthew25: 21).