The pulse of our current culture is anxious, jaded, and angry. It is hard not to feel like the world is unhinged. In our hyper-connected world today, we have amassed a digital nervous system. Our feelings are extended over a vast web shared with others all around the world. And all that just fuels our angst.
Anger is the defining emotion of our culture – in ourselves, our lifestyles, our society.
Even Jesus – who was without sin – experienced and expressed anger in His time on Earth. Though He was very discerning about when He showed that anger.
Jesus’ anger revealed what He loves. His anger flowed out of His compassion for all of us. In the Bible, we see Jesus was furious when He witnessed others hurting the people He loved and whom God created. Jesus was angry at death, suffering, harming of innocent children, and hindering God’s people from drawing closer to Him. His anger was righteous anger.
Jesus loves all people. We are all children of God. Jesus would not stand for the worship of God being pushed out by the collusion of man or the active prevention of people drawing nearer to God. He would not stand for any obstacles that blocked people from coming to Him.
Jesus commands us: love God above all else. And, love your neighbors as you love yourself.
Anger reveals what you love.
What makes you angry?
Something that threatens what you love.
What does your anger tell you about what or who you love?
Our anger reveals our will being thwarted and our love for ourselves being threatened. Reflect on your anger and repent on where your loves may have been misaligned.
Now, you may have justified anger. But do not let it control you.
We are fed a steady diet of rage and anger in society. We are controlled by fear and sin when we allow ourselves to be shaped by loving things. Don’t feed your digital nervous system by living on fear.
Jesus’ anger was a gift, the expression of His love for us. But the only way for our mortal existence to handle or survive our anger is to hand it over to God. Trust Him. He loves us too much to let indifference rule. Hand your anger over to God. You do not have the power to handle it alone.
I pray you allow yourself to be shaped by Jesus’ rhythms, priorities and love. May your loves be aligned with His, so He may help you to have the wisdom to know how to love people and the courage to show them love.
Matthew 5:22-44 ERV
But I tell you, don’t be angry with anyone. If you are angry with others, you will be judged. And if you insult someone, you will be judged by the high court. And if you call someone a fool, you will be in danger of the fire of hell. “So, what if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that someone has something against you? Leave your gift there and go make peace with that person. Then come and offer your gift. “If anyone wants to take you to court, make friends with them quickly. Try to do that before you get to the court. If you don’t, they might hand you over to the judge. And the judge will hand you over to a guard, who will throw you into jail. I assure you that you will not leave there until you have paid everything you owe. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that if a man looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, he has already committed that sin with her in his mind. If your right eye makes you sin, take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. “It was also said, ‘Any man who divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.’ But I tell you that any man who divorces his wife, except for the problem of sexual sin, is causing his wife to be guilty of adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman is guilty of adultery. “You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, ‘When you make a vow, you must not break your promise. Keep the vows that you make to the Lord.’ But I tell you, when you make a promise, don’t try to make it stronger with a vow. Don’t make a vow using the name of heaven, because heaven is God’s throne. Don’t make a vow using the name of the earth, because the earth belongs to him. Don’t make a vow using the name of Jerusalem, because it also belongs to him, the great King. And don’t even say that your own head is proof that you will keep your promise. You cannot make one hair on your head white or black. Say only ‘yes’ if you mean ‘yes,’ and say only ‘no’ if you mean ‘no.’ If you say more than that, it is from the Evil One. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t fight back against someone who wants to do harm to you. If they hit you on the right cheek, let them hit the other cheek too. If anyone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let them have your coat too. If a soldier forces you to walk with him one mile, go with him two. Give to anyone who asks you for something. Don’t refuse to give to anyone who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly.