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Control your anger (1)
'In your anger do not sin.' Ephesians 4:26
Everyone, except the emotionally disturbed, likes to think of themselves as deep-down basically an OK person. And most people are, until they get angry. You see, anger dissolves personality. Anger is that it brews and festers invisibly waiting for its moment and then - KABOOM! The nicest, sweetest people can explode in a ball of rage. It ain't pretty! So what if that's you? Or maybe you've not exploded yet but you can feel your fuse burning shorter and shorter.
Listen to what Paul says: 'In your anger do not sin.' (NIV). Does that mean it's always bad to get mad? No, Paul is making the point that we can't help things happening that stir us to feeling angry, but we have a choice not to let that anger lead to sin. You can scream something really hurtful and nasty at your sister / brother / mum / dad (or whoever) or you can let off steam in your bedroom by screaming into your pillow! One of those things is OK by God and the other isn't!
Sometimes we're angry because we think people don't appreciate us, or take advantage of us. Again Paul writes: 'Get rid of all...anger...forgiving each other...as...God forgave you' (Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV). So, if you're inclined to be hot-tempered, ask God now to remind you of all the times He's forgiven you. It's a great way to cool off ;-)
written by Bob Gass
