“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” – Galatians 5:19-23
Anger – you know
the feeling don’t you? That feeling that rises up inside of you? Like a jug
quickly filling up with water until it overflows. You face is flushed. Your heart is racing. But is it anger? Or is
it frustration or disappointment? For men, anger has been referred to as a
secondary emotion. In other words there
is something at the root of the anger response being displayed. Often times the reasons for anger are
indistinguishable and their expression through you is likewise
indistinguishable. Many people try to
explain how they respond or excuse how they respond to life and problems by
pointing to their ancestors and their family’s dominant country of origin. It
is inherited, but you have to go way back to find its origin. All the way back to the Garden.
I have a little different
perspective on anger as an emotional response.
I recall a time when we ran into a plumbing snag at the house we were
working on. It was fixable, but it might
cost one or two thousand dollars. The
plumber was talking to me on the phone, almost apologetically because he knew
that we are a ministry and the home owner had no money to pay for something
like that. I could sense that he was expecting me to be unhappy and perhaps
even angry (frustrated – disappointed).
I told him – “Man, I have been in two wars. Unless someone is dying – I don’t get upset
about it” I went on to say I know two things – “God is good” and “Jesus
Saves”. That brought perspective into
the issue. I told him that, in fact, I
was happy that I was dealing with the problem and not the home owner. (Galatians 6:2) “Bear one another’s burdens
and thus fulfill the law of Christ.”
In my personal
experience, if I can’t quell my anger – in other words, not let my emotions
rule – it is a pretty good indication that I am not fully submitted to the
Spirit of God. People often point to
Jesus being angry in the temple, seeking to justify their own anger. I would say that the next time you go to
church and the money changers and vendors are set up in the foyer – go ahead
and drive them out with a righteous anger.
But don’t use Jesus as a reason to justify your flesh and sin. Others who are looking for an excuse for
themselves may buy it, but God doesn’t.
“Consider it
pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” – James 1:2-3
Letting the
emotion of anger have its way is a temptation -
a fierce temptation – that will spring on you without notice – like an
ambush. The only way you will “survive”
an ambush is if you fight your way through it.
To do that you must have prepared yourself for such an occasion
beforehand. How you do that I will defer
for another devotion. But suffice it to
say that the temptation to express anger is no different than any other
temptation. Let me share this verse as a
reminder.
“Let no one say
when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil,
nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away
by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth
to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” – James
1:13-15
Believe it – walk
in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By
His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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