Some people I know seem to like believing God is ticked off with them.
They believe it will cause them to change.

Like an angry Father waiting with belt in hand as you pull in the driveway an hour after curfew is motivation to try harder, do better and sin less.

They are convinced God’s anger produces God’s character.

The first problem is, the Bible says the opposite.
Romans 2:4 (NLT) Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

God’s kindness – not His wrath – changes us.

Don’t get me wrong, there will be a time for God’s wrath. But right now, we are living in the acceptable “year” of His unmerited favor.

Titus 2:11–12 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,”

Did you see that? The grace of God trains us to stop doing evil! How? Simple. When we do evil, we don’t die. God lets us experience the consequences so we can LEARN to change what we are doing. That’s why you’ll never be able to get “away with it”. Eventually, the weight of your sin becomes a burden to heavy to bear. And once you confess, Christ forgives and Christ cleanses (1 John 1:8-9). It’s that simple.

So I see the Biblical formula as this:

Kindness turns us.

Grace trains us.

I like that.