The Bible Is Not a List of Demands—God Is Not Angry at You
God wants a relationship with you. He hates all that would hurt you
For far too long, many people have misunderstood the Bible. They see it as a heavy rulebook, a list of impossible demands God puts on His creation. They picture God as angry, harsh, even distant—a divine taskmaster waiting to punish failure. Some even believe the Bible is a tool used to control or “beat up” people into submission. This, friends, is a tragic mistake. It’s a misreading of Scripture that leads to fear, shame, and confusion—and it keeps many from experiencing the heart of God.
Let me be clear: God hates sin. He hates it because sin hurts you—His beloved creation. But God does not hate you—quite the opposite. God loves you despite your sin. He loves you so deeply and passionately that He has always pursued you, longing for relationship and restoration. His desire is for you to live the most abundant, fulfilling life possible—not one burdened by fear or striving to earn His approval.
God’s Character Revealed Throughout Scripture
From Genesis to Revelation, God’s nature is consistently revealed. He is unchanging in His love and mercy, even as we learn more about Him across Scripture. Right at the beginning, God walks with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day, coming to them, not to condemn but to engage, to pursue, and ultimately to rescue. And at the end of the story, He will bring His throne to earth and dwell with His people in an unbroken, joyful presence.
The Bible tells a beautiful, unfolding story of God’s relentless love between those bookends. Jesus on the cross is the ultimate demonstration—God paying the full price for the sins of the entire world. This isn’t a God who keeps a list of your failures; it’s a God who takes them on Himself so you don’t have to.
The Heart of God: Relationship, Not Rules
God is a God of relationship. He has never wanted mere rule-keeping from us. He wants our hearts. When we make the mistake of preaching or teaching that we must change to earn God’s love, we misrepresent the Gospel. The truth is the opposite: God loved you first. He came to us when we couldn’t reach Him.
This is a lifetime of learning and understanding that God’s love is the foundation of everything. He is not against you; He is for you. He hates what hurts you, but He never hates you.
Misunderstandings That Keep Us From God’s Best
Too many people fear “prosperity preaching” because they think God is only after their wallets. But the truth is deeper. God wants to make us righteous—right with Him and each other—and yes, He also wants to make us rich in every way that matters: rich in grace, peace, joy, and yes, often in provision so we can live generously and abundantly.
The abundant life God promises is not about selfish gain but about living fully as the person He created you to be—with dignity, purpose, and hope.
A Call to See God Through Grace
So, friends, stop seeing the Bible as a list of demands. Stop imagining God as an angry judge. The Scriptures are an invitation to know a God who loves you unconditionally, pursues you relentlessly, and has paid the ultimate price to bring you back to Himself.
Your worth is not based on your performance, behavior, or ability to get it right. Your worth is based on God’s love—his unchanging, faithful, freeing love. He wants to restore your dignity, your joy, and your hope.
Open your heart to this truth today: God loves you. He came to rescue you. And He wants you to live in the fullness of His grace forever.