What makes you mad? Some days it seems like most everything is annoying. Even if someone is super nice, it seems to rub the wrong way. My new bible with it's notes at the bottom of each page has really given me some wonderful clues to help me through those annoying times where everything seems to be on the wrong side of right.
The bible has a lot to say about anger, because a lot of people display anger in the bible, and not all of them are justified in doing so. But every once and awhile someone shows a little righteous anger. Yes, there is quite a difference in kinds of anger. Some are not so good, others are. Hear this story I found in Numbers 25.
A man named Phinehas who was the son of a priest named Aaron (Moses' brother) showed real righteous anger to the point that God felt Phinehas was as zealous as He was concerning a group of Israelite men who committed sexual immorality with Midianite women, and worshipped idols with them. The Lord was really angry, but Phinehas took matters into his own hands and killed one of the men with his spear. Phinehas hated the idea that these men dared to disregard the Lord.
Perhaps it is sad that more of us don't suffer from righteous anger, but rather suffer from unjustifiable anger, more easily recognized as selfish anger. How can we know if our anger is justifiable or just plain selfish? The Life Application Study Bible has something to say about anger and also suggests three questions we can ask ourselves: " 1) Why am I angry? 2) Whose rights are being violated (mine or another's)? 3) Is the truth (a principle of God) being violated?... If the truth is at stake, anger is often justified, although violence and retaliation are usually the wrong way to express it. ( Phinehas' case was unique) If we are becoming more and more like God we should be angered by sin."
I know that's a mouthful and may be hard to swallow, but I for one need to swallow every bit of it! I know without examining my anger very far that (I am sad to say) my anger is generally selfish. I hope and pray that I hear God's admonition when...and if...I find myself heated up over something.
I seemed to be an angry child, often using anger to punish someone that wasn't necessarily guilty of anything. I guess my parents hoped I'd grow out of it, but it seemed to be a great way to attack when I felt slighted. Now, it's past time to grow up and out of this bad habit and nasty sin. Won't you pray for me?
I am forever grateful for Christ's Salvation and Love.
Forever Friends?
You bet...Jo
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