Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Sin Not


On the same subject as Pastor Obie’s message from the fourth chapter on the Bible book of Jonah, I found this interesting devotion on “Righteous Indignation”. Creator God gets angry at sin and injustice, so it makes sense that His creatures, made in His image, have circumstances and situations that will similarly anger them for the same reason.

Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.”

The Commentator wrote that there are many occasions when a Christian may be rightly angered by some ugly word or incident and thus be strongly tempted to respond in the same manner. Our Ephesians 4:26 text above, however, urges us to get control of our anger before sundown. We are not to let our anger fester until it breaks out in action. A very similar command was given long ago to Old Testament believers also. “Be angry, a] and do not sin;ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.” Psalm 4:4.

When angry, it is far better to wait and communicate with God about it in bed than to bring recriminations in the street (or, perhaps, in the home) against the ones who have angered us. The Lord Jesus Himself is always our example, "when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to Him who judges justly – Peter 2:23.

Anger is often one of the most difficult areas to overcome in the Christian life. As James says, "but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,[a] these things ought not to be so.” – James 3:8-10.Nevertheless, what man cannot tame, God can! We are finite; God is infinite. We are “fallen” in sin; God is without sin. We are limited; God is all-powerful. 

" Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;  for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." – James 1:19-20.

"Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord" – Romans 12:19.

Anger may come, but sin not.

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