 |
|
| January 4, 2002 |
|
 |
 |
 |
| "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32 It is hard to believe that one can be angry and not sin. If anger grows out of selfishness, it will always lead to sin. But if it results from outrage over wrong, it has a better chance of being followed by mercy. Some people hide their anger and deny they have it, but it eventually leaks out in ways harmful to themselves and to others. Christians sometimes won't admit their anger because they feel anger in itself is sinful. They don't recognize that feeling sorry for themselves or feeling hurt an be a veiled way of expressing anger. The perfect cure for sinful anger is honest confession, forgiveness, and love. These come from God. We have it not of ourselves. Jesus Christ is God's evidence of His forgiveness and love. On the cross at Calvary God's anger is poured out in a healing way for us. "Even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." We are to forgive because we have been forgiven. It is not that we forgive in order to get forgiveness. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15). If there is someone in your life who needs your forgiveness, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath" but find it in your heart to follow the example Jesus set before us. We can learn to live with our anger by being honest with ourselves and by living under the relief of Christ's forgiveness toward us. May God bless you always as you seek His help to face your anger and find the healing grace to forgive and love again. Love in Christ Jesus, Sandy |