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Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
Pent up anger is an explosion waiting to happen. Sooner or later, the pent up frustration will explode, either in our own life or into the life of someone else. Jesus taught us to forgive and to reconcile (Matthew 18). Anger must be dealt with. Otherwise, the devil will use it to abuse us as well as others in our lives. Don’t give him a foothold in your life. If you give him an inch (2.54 cm), he’ll take a mile (1.61 km)!
My Prayer…
Father in heaven, thank you for the ability to get angry at the things that anger you. Please help me channel that emotion in ways that are productive and help me to be repulsed at evil. Please stir my heart to reconciliation, especially when that anger is against one of your children. By the power of your Holy Spirit, help me to forgive as you have forgiven me. In the name of Jesus, my Lord, I pray. Amen.
Bible References
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
18 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Ephesians 4:26-27
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
Many falsely believe that it is a sin to get angry. It is not a sin to get angry, Jesus Himself got angry when the moneychangers were in the Temple (Matthew 21:13). As Christians we will be angry when we see evil, or when God is mocked, this is justifiable anger. Where sin can quickly come in is the way we handle our anger. Even though we may be completely justified in being angry at a situation or a person, it is never right to seek vengeance on them or tell every single person what they have done to us. It is fine to seek godly counsel from a trusted individual about situations where we have been wronged, but never ok to spread the details around for all to hear how badly we were treated! Romans 12:21 tells us to overcome evil with good.
In my own experience with anger at others, many times when someone has offended me in some way I try to consider that they may be having a bad day and I just got in the way of that. But when I feel the anger has to be addressed for whatever reason I go to that person and try to talk with them in a calm way about it. If voices are raised and nasty things said, the situation goes from bad to worse very quickly, this I have learned the hard way! More times than not I have simply misunderstood their meaning of what they said or did and the issue is resolved quickly. However, if there is a problem we talk it out and try to come to an understanding. This may mean that we agree to disagree sometimes, and that is fine to do for we are not condoning their behavior or thought on an issue we are choosing to rise above it and live in unity with one another. Never, should we hold a grudge against someone for then satan can come in and bring much unrest and misery to our lives! We are to be forgiving to people, that is taught repeatedly throughout God’s Word. If vengeance is to be had it is God’s to obtain, not ours (Romans 12:19, Deuteronomy 32:35).
Father God, thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace displayed to me. Help me to be loving and merciful to those in my life each day and to be a reflection of Your love to them! I love You so Abba and give You all praise, honor, and glory, Amen!