BE ANGRY AND DO NOT SIN

Fly Above Anger

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 30 April 2013

Hi all,

Stay in Control

The way people react to similar situations can be very different. Some seem to be “unflappable”. A bomb may detonate down the street and they remain cool, calm and collected. We look at them, shake our heads and ask how they do it. Others go off “pop” with the driver in the other car who cut in on them too closely. Several years ago a man was arrested and tried for murder. A car overtook him. I suppose we would say it was done badly. The result was road rage. The offending driver tried to get away from the offended driver. At the bottom of a hill, the cars both stopped. The drivers “got out”. A “shouting match” ensued. Then the offended driver took out a hockey stick and beat the other driver to death. Road rage can make huge psychological changes in people. The outcome can be frightening.

Don't Blow Your Top

Many of us struggle with anger. Being angry about something may be justifiable. What is important is how we deal with it. The Message expresses the Christian approach to anger as follows: ²⁶ Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry--but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. ²⁷ Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. Eph 4:26-27 MSG

I get very angry when I hear or see a man hitting a woman; likewise if an adult mistreats a child. Such anger is permissible. What you and I do with the anger is another matter. We should never vent our anger on other people or their property.

Just Relax & Take it Easy

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

As a child, I was told to count slowly from 1 to 10 before I reacted. That advice has stood me in good stead. Mind you I must say that when a dog savaged my young son, I grabbed an axe. The dog ran away. I was tempted to run after the dog. In the end, I quietened down and felt foolish. Thank the Lord I couldn’t catch that dog. The incident did heighten my awareness to my reactions in anger. I pray that I’m never in that situation again.

Today’s meditation is on anger and how Christians can deal with it.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 30 April 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	BE ANGRY AND DO NOT SIN
A couple of years ago Phyllida and I went to renew our driving licenses in Randburg. Queuing up for most things tends to be frustrating at the best of times. For some reason it always seems so much worse in government offices. What do you do when standing in a queue? Look round at others in a discreet way trying to convince them you are not looking at them, while they try to convince you they aren’t looking at you! We also tend to read and re-read all the notices and adverts on the walls. One such notice really amused me. It said, “Do not lose your temper. We do not have spares!” The first Scripture this morning reminded me vividly of that notice. I looked up Proverbs 14:9, the Scripture in the “God’s Word” translation. It resonated with me immediately. I understood it saying, “A patient person has great understanding and a short temper is the height of stupidity”. Part of me felt like saying “Amen”! Almost all of us have a short temper in certain areas. Some manage to keep it under control. Others do not have this luxury. On occasions, when we go off “pop”, it isn’t serious. Much depends on circumstances and other people. Some of us have very stressful lives. The police are constantly confronted by angry people. It goes with their job! So when we go off “pop” with policemen, in all probability they will reciprocate and you will end up in trouble. For Christians there has to be a solution. Short of closing eyes and ears, we must do something. But being who we are, we are tempted to want to “beat him to a pulp”. Apart from it being illegal to assault someone, the Saviour is unimpressed when our anger boils over. There is a solution for a born again, Spirit-filled Christian. The answer is to “walk in the Spirit”. If we are doing so, we will be experiencing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. These “fruit” are all legal! How do we do it? I have no formula for this. But the recipe is in the Scripture. We need to be in a close and constant relationship with Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. So much so that every moment of every day we are aware of the abiding peace that is made available to those who are seeking to follow Christ. “Impossible!” I hear people say. My answer is, “Yes, it is impossible.” But not with God. Matthew’s Gospel states; 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 ESV We make what is impossible for us, possible for Him in us, by prayer. Today’s meditation suggests how! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			29 A person of great understanding is patient, but a short temper is the height of stupidity. Proverbs 14:29 GW 6 The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, "Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Exodus 34:6 NLT 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 ESV 1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 NLT 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:19-21 ESV 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbour, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. Ephesians 4:25-27 ESV	Please don’t lose your temper. We can’t supply a spare. The last few that we had in stock have vanished in thin air! We’re told the manufacturers can no longer supply; Which means the one God gave you, should last until you die. Perhaps around the corner, you’ll find another shop. They have a different model, which just might be a flop. So please be very careful and do not put it down. It’s almost irreplaceable from anywhere in town. Remember the original came with a guarantee, To last you for a lifetime. So use it cautiously. Perhaps it needs a service? Just add a little oil! If it is neglected you’ll find that it may boil! The danger is, it’s possible, for it to go off “pop”. A nasty thing to happen when dealing with a “cop”. Policemen are suspicious of everything we do; And want to find a reason to be arresting you. Their model is outdated and it is wearing thin; They want an opportunity to bash you on the chin! They asked us for an upgrade, but they’re not made to fit. So try a little patience. Eventually they’ll quit. Perhaps you’ve heard a rumour, the very best of all, Is readily available? It only takes one call To access the supplier. They have nine qualities, Each of which is legal; and all designed to please! There’s love and joy and patience; with peace and self-control, Assembled by the Maker and weaved into a whole. There’s kindness and there’s goodness, combined with gentleness. They come encased in faithfulness and sure to solve your mess. Oh Yes! I didn’t mention. They do not cost a cent! There are no service charges. The price is just repent! Call Him on His hotline. His Spirit will reply. You will need His baptism; which others can’t supply! Nothing will be missing. For you, it’s a “done deal”; And when it’s properly installed, He’ll mark you with His seal. When all is up and running, your temper you will see, Your anger monitored by Christ in His authority. Why not try and call Him on His hotline to heaven? Try “P R A Y J E S - U S 7, 7, 7, 7!” Jim Strickland Written 30th April 2012