Podcast Title: The Daily Blade: Joby Martin & Kyle Thompson
Episode: #96 - Kyle Thompson // God’s Attributes According to Himself: Slow to Anger & Lovingkindness
Release Date: May 14, 2025
Introduction
In episode #96 of The Daily Blade, co-hosts Pastor Joby Martin of the Church of Eleven22 and Kyle Thompson of Undaunted.Life delve into the profound attributes of God as described in the Bible. This episode, titled "God’s Attributes According to Himself: Slow to Anger & Lovingkindness," focuses on understanding and applying these divine characteristics to everyday Christian living.
Exploring Exodus 34:6-7
Kyle Thompson anchors the discussion by examining Exodus 34:6-7 from the New American Standard Bible (1995 Edition). He emphasizes that within these verses, God articulates seven distinct attributes of Himself. While the previous episode covered "compassionate" and "gracious," today's focus shifts to “slow to anger” and “lovingkindness.”
1. God is Slow to Anger
Kyle begins by reflecting on his personal struggle with anger, humorously admitting, “I am kind of the furthest thing from slow to anger. I’m more like formula one anger or drag racer anger” (00:46). He shares his journey towards mastering patience, noting significant personal growth despite ongoing challenges.
Key Insights:
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Patience as Divine Attribute: Kyle explains that “slow to anger” essentially means that God is patient and long-suffering. He underscores God's immense patience with humanity, particularly the Israelites throughout Exodus.
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Application to Parenting: Kyle draws a parallel between God's patience and his responsibilities as a father. He confesses, “As a father of young boys...if they don’t do the thing I want, boom, like immediately. Sometimes my reaction can be overly harsh” (02:40). This realization compels him to extend the same patience to his children that God extends to him.
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Scriptural Reference: He cites Romans 2:4, stating, “Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance” (03:15). This emphasizes that God's patience is intended to guide believers towards repentance and transformation.
2. God is Full of Lovingkindness
Transitioning to the second attribute, Kyle elaborates on "lovingkindness," derived from the Hebrew word hesed. He references Dr. Mark Hitchcock's teaching, which interprets hesed as "loyal love" or "stubborn love."
Key Insights:
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Definition and Depth: Kyle describes hesed as God's unwavering and persistent love, saying, “God loves us in a way that is infinitely more, more love and more patient than any person that you've ever met” (03:55). This highlights the boundless and enduring nature of divine love.
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Challenges in Human Relationships: He addresses the difficulty humans often face in loving those who are hard to love. Whether it be due to repeated mistakes, deceit, or intentional harm, Kyle acknowledges that emulating God's lovingkindness can be challenging.
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Scriptural Exhortations: To reinforce this attribute, Kyle references several passages:
- Lamentations 3:22-23: “The Lord's loving kindness indeed never ceases, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.”
- Psalms 136:1: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for his loving kindness is everlasting.”
- Psalms 36:7: “How precious is your loving kindness, O God, and the children of men, take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”
- Psalms 100:5: “For the Lord is good, his loving kindness is everlasting, and his faithfulness to all generations.”
- Psalms 89:1-2: “I will sing of the loving kindness of the Lord forever to all generations. I will make known your faithfulness with my mouth. For I've said loving kindness will be built up forever in the heavens. You will establish your faithfulness.”
- Psalms 143:8: “Let me hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Teach me the way in which I should walk for you, for to you I lift up my soul.”
- Psalms 107:1: “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for his loving kindness is everlasting.”
These scriptures collectively underscore the perpetual and steadfast nature of God's lovingkindness, encouraging believers to emulate this trait in their interactions.
Conclusion and Practical Application
Kyle wraps up the discussion by reaffirming the importance of understanding and embodying God's attributes of being slow to anger and full of lovingkindness. He encourages listeners to reflect on these qualities and integrate them into their daily lives, fostering patience and unwavering love in their relationships.
Final Takeaway:
- Embracing God's Patience and Love: By recognizing and striving to mirror God's patience and lovingkindness, Christians can navigate personal challenges and relationships with greater grace and resilience.
Notable Quotes
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Kyle Thompson (00:46):
"I'm kind of the furthest thing from slow to anger. I'm more like formula one anger or drag racer anger." -
Kyle Thompson (02:40):
"As a father of young boys...if they don’t do the thing I want, boom, like immediately. Sometimes my reaction can be overly harsh." -
Kyle Thompson (03:15):
"Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance." -
Kyle Thompson (03:55):
"God loves us in a way that is infinitely more, more love and more patient than any person that you've ever met."
Closing Remarks
Pastor Joby Martin concludes the episode by encouraging listeners to support the podcast by sharing it and leaving a five-star rating and review. He reiterates the mission to equip men for spiritual battles, inviting them to stay engaged and return for future episodes.
Join Us In Person:
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with Pastor Joby and Kyle Thompson at the 2025 Men's Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Reserve your seat today at mensconference.com.
This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and applications from episode #96 of The Daily Blade. Whether you're a long-time listener or new to the show, understanding God's patience and lovingkindness can profoundly impact your spiritual journey and daily interactions.
