Be angry [at sin--at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], yet do not sin; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down. And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness].
EPHESIANS 4:26-27 AMP
Man, by nature, since the fall in the Garden of Eden, has become easy prey to a range of emotions, ranging from anger, malice, greed and covetousness, among many others. Long before God gave Moses the 10 commandments on Mount Sinai, Cain had murdered his brother, men in Abraham's days had been involved in sexual immorality, and God had wiped off a generation of men with a flood, due to sin. It therefore means that man's tendency to sin isn't about generation or lack of rules, but about the Adamic nature he inherited due to the generational nature of sin.
Today's extract seeks to make a distinction for those who claim to be born anew, and who claim God as their master. Anger is an human emotion, but what usually follows it becomes a function of your understanding of who you are and who you belong to. I can be angry, I am allowed to, but if I cannot fulfill the other part of the sentence, I must watch it, so I do not go contrary to God's command. I can be angry, but I am not allowed to sin. When emotions are high, sin is not far, and I must take very great care to ensure that my words, actions and intentions reflect my relationship with God.
When anger comes, it must be aimed at correcting a wrong, if possible, or if it sin, to make it right. The devil has been in the business of deceit for a long time, and I cannot beat him at his game. All he needs is a handhold, or a small window of opportunity to destroy a life. What starts as a small slight escalates into a big offence, and then malice, hatred and bitterness creeps in silently. Pride makes it difficult for me to see where I went wrong, or to apologize to the other party, so I stay off. My prayers are hindered because God would not accept prayers from a heart filled with bitterness; I cannot relate well with people, simply because I have allowed a wall to build up between us. Look back at the beginning of this paragraph, and identify how it all started: anger at a slight or offence. It always starts with the small things, and we will do well to always watch our lives, so we do not open ourselves up to the manipulation of the Devil.
Before it goes out of control, resolve the hurt. Reconcile. Forgive. Let go. Move on. Don't let your heart be a fertile ground where the seeds of discord, bitterness or hatred can be sown. The fruits of those seeds will hinder God's move in your life, and prevent you from enjoying all that God intends for you. Remember, it always starts small. His time of favour is here.
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