06/30/2025
Carrying anger or hatred in us for long periods of time, that is my concentration this morning. Do we resolve issues quickly and move to forgiveness in a timely manner or are we suffering as we carry that unforgiven baggage day after day. What does God's Word tell us about this?
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV
This verse often catches people off guard when they read it. Most feel that being angry is itself sinful, but it is not... how about being filled with wrath or even hating something? Nope they aren't either; otherwise, God would not be without sin. There will be things in life that will make us angry... we will feel hatred and even move beyond simple anger to become wrathful, or even into hate! But these are not emotions and states of mind that we should tolerate for long... scripture tells us as much.
“Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.”
Matthew 5:25 ESV
When we are walking down the street we can look at the crowd passing by and pick out those who are angry by the expression on their faces, and we can visit a retirement home and tell which of these residents has carried anger and hatred with them most of their lives. It is the lines that are etched into their faces and present a permanent scowl that tells everyone who sees them... "I am not a happy person." or “I have not been happy most of my life.”
Unfortunately, the effects of harboring these feelings are more than skin deep; they affect the health and mental wellbeing of the carriers too, they do this by damaging our bodies, our mental state, and our faith. If such negative emotional states are not resolved, and resolved quickly, we will experience lasting and debilitating physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual damage.
So, we are told to resolve our issues with one another quickly; we are told that vengeance belongs to the Lord, and we are instructed to forgive! These acts remove the poison from our bodies, minds, and souls, while allowing us to return to God unencumbered.
Have you ever had an argument with someone and tried to approach God in prayer before resolving that disagreement? It is not only hard to reach that place where our prayers bring us into the presence of God, but our attitudes and words themselves are serving as barriers to our relationship with Him, and we just don't feel much like praying. It isn't the anger that it is a sin, but anything that separates us from God is. Letting anger fester in us can indeed separate us from the Lord if not dealt with quickly.
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV
Sometimes we can't seem to resolve issues with people. Try as we might, we can't reach consensus or return our relationship to a good place... in those instances we are in mortal physical and spiritual danger. Without a resolution we may become bitter and suffer ill effects in not only our relationship with other people, but bodily, mentally, and spiritually in our relationship with God. Scientists are only now discovering the full effects of stress and anger on the body and mind, but the Bible dealt with this connection long ago. God spoke to us about resolving it and even gave us a cure... loving one another, forgiveness, and grace.
Yesterday I wrote about cutting off the right hand, and this is one of those times when we must separate ourselves from what is standing between God and ourselves. Even one sided forgiveness allows us to return to a place of peace within ourselves, but if the tip of the thorn remains, it will just continue to fester... so we must remove it... we must separate ourselves from it, and this is often a painful decision and process. I have never met a child who didn't cry and struggle to pull his hand back when a parent attempted to remove a thorn from his finger. Sometimes we too can fear the solution more than the problem. Did Jesus feel this way in the Garden of Gethsemane when He asked for the cup to pass from Him? Maybe.
“Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”
Proverbs 22:24-25 ESV
We have many sayings that attempt to address situations like this; sayings such as "a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down", and "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." We have known the problem, and the cure, for a long time, but its not until we apply the healing power of God's Word to it that we can successfully deal with both the problem and the fear of healing it.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1 ESV
So, the solution is to resolve issues quickly, let go of our anger, return to a state of love, forgive, and if it should be necessary... separate ourselves from the cause so that we can successfully apply one-sided forgiveness. Then the benefits will be realized; we won't have a permanent scowl, the neighborhood children won't refer to us as a grouchy old man, or bitter old woman, and others will be glad to see us coming. Our good health will return or remain intact, and most of all... our relationship with God will be restored to its full glory.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Word that instructs me on the ways and benefits of removing anger, wrath, and hatred from my life. I thank you for providing a way in which I can drain off the poison that attempts to harm my relationship with you. I realize that I should detest and even hate such things as sin, but don't let my anger with others become unrighteous and result in strife, or lead to harmful transgressions. Father, give me the strength, determination, and wisdom needed to resolve conflicts, and put anger behind me. Help me to love my neighbor enough to overcome all conflict and to do so quickly in order to avoid any ill effect. Give me courage Lord, because I know that the cure for my anger and hatred is often painful, and that walking away from addressing it seems like the least painful thing to do... lead me courageously through a solution, and if one can't be found then give me the strength of character needed to forgive where none is offered in return. Let nothing stand in the way of extracting all traces of conflict from me and returning me to you with a pure heart... free of the lingering effects that would invariably eat at me, and my faith, if left unchecked. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who loves me, and who loved me so much that you sent your Son Jesus to redeem me of my sins while I was yet a sinner. Holy are you whose mercy and grace knows no bounds, and great is your Son Jesus Christ who teaches me to forgive… even from high upon every cross to which I find myself nailed. Hear me as I call out to you while forgiving those who have harmed me, and as I ask that you forgive them and me as well. In this way you will be forever glorified, and I will praise and worship you forevermore.
Amen, Amen, Amen.
“And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.”
Luke 23:33-34 ESV
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15 ESV
“Be not afraid but forgive” – Unknown Origin
Rich Forbes