Posted: 03 May 2024

From a sermon given on 28 April 2024:

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
(Psalm 37:8)

Anger is a powerful emotion that can cloud our judgment and lead us down paths we later regret. In the heat of the moment, we may say or do things that have lasting consequences, affecting our relationships, our well-being, and our witness as followers of Christ.

Anger, when left unchecked, can escalate into resentment, bitterness, and hostility.

Proverbs 29:22 warns us that, " An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression."

Here is the same verse, but in the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible: "An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins."

"An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins" James 1:19-20 advises us to be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," recognizing that human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

We are called to choose forgiveness and reconciliation rather than allow anger to fester and lead to destructive behavior. "let not the sun go down while you are still angry," and to "not give the devil a foothold" by harboring unforgiveness in our hearts. Ultimately, may we surrender to God's transforming power and allow His love to permeate our hearts.

Finally let us be mindful of the choices we make in the heat of anger, recognizing the potential for harm and destruction they carry. As we choose forgiveness over bitterness and reconciliation over conflict, may our lives reflect the transformative power of God's love, bringing healing and restoration to ourselves and to those around us.

Further Readings:

Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
(1 Samuel 20:30)

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
(Proverbs 27:4)