Speaking In Anger - April 5, 2015

 

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

1 Peter 3:9     Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Ephesians 4:29     Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

James 3: 5 -7     So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

Romans 3:13     "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";

Kids are very resilient, they tend to deflect or go deaf to, but as we grow older, our relationship to and our attitude toward what is said becomes more and more personal. The physical wounds of life heal, but most of us have wounds caused by words that would never heal. Over time we h come to learn that words have power over us. We have seen the harm that the tongue can inflict. It is amazing that such a little organ of the body could cause so much damage, pain and heartache.

As members of the body of Christ, what are we supposed to do when destructive words come our way, words spoken to inflict pain that hit us in the head as well as the heart?

There is one major step to  take to rectify the situation:

Shrug it off - Ecclesiastes 7: 20 - 22     20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good
and does not sin. 21 Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22 For many times, also, your own heart has known that even you have cursed others.

After being provoked, the true quality of self-control  is displayed in our ability to take it without retaliation. A person who is  in sync with God, patient and  long-suffering is not quick to anger or punish someone who has insulted, offended, or harmed him.

As part of His example of how we should pray in Matthew 6:12, Jesus tells us, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Our sins are debts to God, which we, the debtors, cannot pay. God is willing to wipe our slates clean if we humble ourselves before Him. We ask for forgiveness for our sins, and by so doing, we acknowledge that there is no other way to get rid of sin but through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When we forgive others, God can see His own image reflected in us. As His children, we must be willing to forgive no matter the affront.