Don’t Become Angry     7-16-06

 Read Ephesians 4:17-27

Key verses, Ephesians 4:25-27
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

If you let yourself become angry about something, your will loose your self control and say and do things you would not otherwise consider. And anger turns to bitterness. You might even consider that it is all right to be mad, remembering that Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. You remember that He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. But, did Jesus do those things because He let Himself become angry. Lets look at it.

In Matthew 21:12-14 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” He said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” In Mark 11:15-18 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving our those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And He taught them, He said, “Is it not written My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. But you have made it a den of robbers”. In Luke 19:45-46 Then He entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. “It is written, He said to them, “My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.”

Ephesians refers to anger that does not lead to sin. Jesus was capable of being angry without sinning. When Jesus cleared the temple, Scripture in Matthew, Mark and Luke does not indicate that He was angry.

We must be careful not to justify our anger with Scripture. Ephesians 4:31 commands us to put away all anger. Anger does not bring about God’s redemptive work, far more often it hinders what God is working to accomplish. We must examine any anger within us and allow God to remove any sinful attitudes that anger may have produced.

PRAYER: Almighty God, thank you for the opportunities we have to mingle and share your love with others. Forgive our sins and keep us happy. Amen.

Luther McCollum