You ever find yourself in one of those arguments you just can't get out of . Its like one starts and then it just takes one word or one action to start a whole argument... We stand there screaming at each other for a half an hour and we get so heated literally.. As if some great injustice has been done to us. Sometimes I get so hot I wonder if my face is cherry red! I don't know about you but for me I don't usually get mad but there are certain people in my life that know exactly the "right" buttons to push!!.... and I find myself in a situation where I am not proud of myself. I become the exact opposite of my personality and honestly sometimes it feels good.
Psalms 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26 both state this phrase "be angry and do not sin" but do those verses condone my behavior? Unfortunately NOT! ;)
The word anger used in these verses is completely different than the definition of what we know as anger. Anger has a good twin! The "anger" used here is described as righteous anger, it is unselfish and stirs when an unrighteousness act is being done to person of the Lord. It is an anger of the Lord's people who hate evil.
The anger we usually exhibit is a SIN ... It is selfish, self defensive, and self serving. We should not even have this kind of anger towards one another because it can lead to even more evil.
Matthew 5:21-22
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
In Ephesians, Paul says "do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity"
This verse can be applied to good and bad anger. So how can you sin by good anger? Well even dignified anger can be provoked to sin if you sit on it long enough. That's why Paul says to let go of that anger before you go to bed and leave vengeance to God!
So do we deal with it? Romans tells us how we must react in situations I mentioned earlier.
Romans 12:17-21
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Hard hitting words, but words to live by...
Do all things with submission, humbleness, always do what is honorable and Live in Peace.
Jin =)
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