"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."  Proverbs 16:32
 

PUT AWAY YOUR ANGER

God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, Whom He has given us. Let's not mess it up!

Too many have the wrong idea about what forgiveness is. It is not excusing sin or sweeping it under the rug. It is not tolerance of abusive or sinful behavior, nor is it a matter of time healing all wounds.

God tells us, "BE YE ANGRY, AND SIN NOT: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil." Ephesians 4:26,27

Anger is so often followed by violence against ourselves or others that 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 others. Christians sometimes don't want to admit to themselves the anger they feel because they think in itself is sinful. They do not recognize that feeling sorry for themselves or feeling hurt can be a veiled way of expressing anger. The cure for sinful anger is honest confession, forgiveness, and love. These come from God, not from inside us.

"Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry?" Jonah 4:4

God's question to Jonah can also be directed to us. It's a question that stimulates self-examination and directs attention to God's mercy and compassion for all people. Are the poor in our society in need of God's mercy and our compassion? Are not the sins of greed, prejudice, racism, unfairness, and injustice largely responsible for these problems?

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." Ephesians 4:31

Are we justified in our anger over failures and troubles of our fellow human beings? Our anger does not help them or us. How much better for us all if we express a Christ like compassion and dedicate ourselves to constructive action to bring deliverance to people ensnared in such dehumanizing situations! What a joy then to also share with them the saving Gospel of forgiveness in Christ!

Jesus Christ is God's evidence of His forgiveness and love. On the cross God's anger is poured out in a healing way for us. God is no longer angry with us but loves us sinners, even while He hates our sin and waits for us to repent. 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.

"The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet." Nahum 1:3

God Bless You All as the Lord helps you to face anger honestly and provides you with His grace to forgive.

"Lord Dictated Them"