Word@Work Eph49 - Ephesians 4:26-27
Published: Wed, 12/03/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
THE UNEXPLODED BOMB
Ephesians 4:26-27 "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. (NIV)
After lies (see yesterday's W@W), anger should be next on the Christian's hit list of 'old ways to be dealt with'. Anger is funny stuff. It is not always wrong, because we know that God is angry against sin and rebellion - that was why Jesus came to suffer the punishment of the cross (so that we might be uncoupled from God's wrath). Righteous anger is God's anger. And there are times when Christians can properly be angry against injustice. But our old corrupted nature rarely gets anger on target. The goal posts move rapidly from anger against the offence to hatred against the person ... and that causes problems.
Of course the devil wants to create as many problems as possible. And the overspill from righteous anger suits his purpose splendidly. It instantly turns a rightful concern into an unrighteous vilification, and godliness is overturned. An old surgeon was preparing young doctors for their surgical exams, and he misquoted this verse as, "Let not the sun go down upon un-drained pus". He wanted to impress the point that sepsis (particularly in the pre-antibiotic era) was potentially fatal if left unattended overnight. In the same way, (changing the metaphor), anger allowed to fester can be as dangerous as au unexploded bomb in the back garden.
Most of us like to think we are reasonable and tolerant. But the stress of pressurised business or professional life can bring out the worst in us. That is why it is well worth while to think ahead. Anger that seeps into the night is neither objective nor righteous. There may well be an issue to deal with - so deal with it. Or there may be an injustice to forgive - so do it. It may be that the injustice continues and it is not in your hands to punish or vindicate - leave that to God (cf Romans 12;29-21). The family, church and working environments give plenty of scope to put all this into practice - before bedtime!
Prayer: Merciful Father. Thank You that Jesus has relieved me of having to face Your wrath on the final Day. Help me to know how to deal with the sinfulness in others and the injustice which that causes. Help me to know how to deal with my angry responses so that Satan will not win another battle. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and Spanish
After lies (see yesterday's W@W), anger should be next on the Christian's hit list of 'old ways to be dealt with'. Anger is funny stuff. It is not always wrong, because we know that God is angry against sin and rebellion - that was why Jesus came to suffer the punishment of the cross (so that we might be uncoupled from God's wrath). Righteous anger is God's anger. And there are times when Christians can properly be angry against injustice. But our old corrupted nature rarely gets anger on target. The goal posts move rapidly from anger against the offence to hatred against the person ... and that causes problems.
Of course the devil wants to create as many problems as possible. And the overspill from righteous anger suits his purpose splendidly. It instantly turns a rightful concern into an unrighteous vilification, and godliness is overturned. An old surgeon was preparing young doctors for their surgical exams, and he misquoted this verse as, "Let not the sun go down upon un-drained pus". He wanted to impress the point that sepsis (particularly in the pre-antibiotic era) was potentially fatal if left unattended overnight. In the same way, (changing the metaphor), anger allowed to fester can be as dangerous as au unexploded bomb in the back garden.
Most of us like to think we are reasonable and tolerant. But the stress of pressurised business or professional life can bring out the worst in us. That is why it is well worth while to think ahead. Anger that seeps into the night is neither objective nor righteous. There may well be an issue to deal with - so deal with it. Or there may be an injustice to forgive - so do it. It may be that the injustice continues and it is not in your hands to punish or vindicate - leave that to God (cf Romans 12;29-21). The family, church and working environments give plenty of scope to put all this into practice - before bedtime!
Prayer: Merciful Father. Thank You that Jesus has relieved me of having to face Your wrath on the final Day. Help me to know how to deal with the sinfulness in others and the injustice which that causes. Help me to know how to deal with my angry responses so that Satan will not win another battle. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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