When
Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said
to them, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of
God belongs to those who are like these children. - Mark 10:14
Jesus
went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it
was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man's
hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the
man with the deformed hand, "Come and stand in front of everyone."
Then he turned to his critics and asked, "Does the law permit good deeds
on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to
destroy it?" But they wouldn't answer him. He looked around at them angrily
and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man,
"Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was
restored! Mark 3:1-5
Jesus
had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. When the
people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they
assumed she was going to Lazarus's grave to weep. So they followed her there.
When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if
only you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw
her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up
within him, and he was deeply troubled. "Where have you put him?" he
asked them. They told him, "Lord, come and see." Then Jesus wept. The
people who were standing nearby said, "See how much he loved him!"
But some said, "This man healed a blind man. Couldn't he have kept Lazarus
from dying?" Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a
cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. John 11:30-38
One of the
emotions we see in Jesus and ourselves that Cowen and Keltner didn’t
specifically address in their study 27
Different Categories of Emotions is that of anger. According to Leon F.
Seltzer, PhD, in an article in Psychology Today “What Your Anger Maybe Hiding,” anger is the not a basic emotion, but actually is
a secondary emotional response evoked by a primary emotion like fear or
rejection (as the opposite of admiration). Interestingly enough anger also
causes the brain to secrete the hormone norepinephrine which actually
numbs a person…or self-soothes. Maybe that is why some people get into the
cycle of anger since their brain knows that it will get this chemical—just like
a drug addiction.
God has shown anger many
times throughout the Bible especially to the nation of Israel, His chosen
people. In their disobedience they deserved it. But He is gracious. For his anger lasts only a
moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but
joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5
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| Sunset on the Columbia River - Richland. Washington |
Paul gave us some very good advice on dealing
with life and in particular with anger.
Since
you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,
throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is
corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts
and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous
and holy. So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are
all parts of the same body. And "don't sin by letting anger control you."
Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a
foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:21-27
David wrote in the Psalms about that anger that
Paul was teaching the church at Ephesus.
You can be sure of this: The LORD set apart the
godly for himself. The LORD will answer when I call to him. Don't sin by
letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.
Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the LORD. Many people say,
"Who will show us better times?" Let your face smile on us, LORD. You
have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and
new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep
me safe. Psalm 4:3-8
Still angry? Me, too. I’ve had to deal with my
own anger issues in life…I had the typical Irish temper. I can assure you that
it is only through prayer and by the power of the Holy Spirit that people look at
me today and say I have such patience…and a calm attitude. Sometimes even now I
am really raging inside. Mad mostly at myself for poor choices. That is what it
all comes down to. Choices and attitude. I’m glad that Jesus understands my
anger…and that He gives me joy and peace. I don’t deserve it…but He mercifully
gives it to me anyway.
There are things about which we can have righteous anger...abortion, human trafficking, child abuse...the list can go on and on. What riles up your anger? What do you do about it?
The Lord has
given me great joy. Released from anger…and filled that void in my heart with
joy. God is good that way. Just like David taught…Don’t let anger control you. But re-read that again closely…Don’t sin by letting anger
control you. Don’t sin. That is just what God wants us to do…remain pure
and holy for Him. Challenge for today: Don’t
sin by letting anger control you. Make choices that please God, encourage
others, and show that you love yourself.
Prayer ~ O LORD, don't rebuke me in your
anger or discipline me in your rage. Psalm 6:1. Though I am surrounded by
troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies (even if that enemy
is myself). You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.
Psalm 138:7.
Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 9-12
© 2018 Text and
photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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