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Previous Devotionals
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!!!GET ANGRY!!!
“Don’t make me angry, Mr. McGee, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” Bruce Banner, aka, The Incredible Hulk
When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. (John 2:15)
So let’s talk about anger again, but this time in a different context. Sure we are to treat anger with respect, but does this mean we are not to get angry?
In Genesis, we are told that we are created in God’s image or likeness. This means we share the DNA of our Father. God experiences joy, happiness, sorrow, sadness and frustration, and so do we. These are all perfectly normal emotions we have been blessed with, but what about anger? Is this an emotion we should hide, or be ashamed of? Should we repent every time we get angry? I don’t think so. If we are made in God’s image, and share His emotions, why should anger be any different?
Including the opening verse, there are many situations in the bible where we witness God’s anger, but also His children’s anger directed at Him. A good example is Moses venting his frustration directly at God in Num. 11:10-15, and then God venting His anger to Moses later on in Num.21:13.
So what is the deal then? Is anger justified or not? We are permitted to be angry, as long as we don’t sin in our anger. This is where we have to be careful. We mustn’t turn our anger on the person, but instead, on the act. The problem is, too many people will arouse our anger, and if we vented every time someone offended us, we would all have to be locked up in padded rooms. Pent up anger is very dangerous as well. So what do we do then? We should start turning our anger on the one that usually stirs up dissension: Satan.
When we think of it, isn’t he the root of a lot of our grief? Granted, we bring a lot on ourselves, but he does contribute more than his fair share. So, what do we do with a bully or a tyrant that keeps pushing us around? Do we allow him to continue to hurt us and the ones we love, or do we tap into that anger and turn in on him?
Too many of us men have been convinced that our tendency to anger is unhealthy and abnormal. No, it is an emotion that we can use to great effect as long as it is aimed in the right direction. There are several occasions when Christ Himself got angry and immediately put Satan in his place, have we not been given the same authority over him? One of the problems we have is that John 2:25 is often taken out of context. This verse simply says to be careful not to let relatively small issues blow up into big issues. Show some grace, but don’t be a whipping post.
We are soldiers, guys, and there is nothing more dangerous or terrifying to an enemy than to have to face angry troops. Aren’t we tired of seeing our loved ones under attack? Doesn’t the thought of the enemy sitting back and laughing at our defeats enough to get your blood boiling? If so, let’s strike back! Let the enemy feel your wrath, and rob him of his boldness.
Verse to meditate on: “And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.” Deut. 28:13 |
