This week has been a hard one. As I watch the news I see that our possible
next president is reckless and careless with information that our enemies don’t
need to have access to. I listen and
discover that she has told many lies running from accountability. Then I learn that she is seemingly above the
laws that others have to live by. I feel
angry.
And then
yesterday just to the West of me in our neighboring state of Texas news reports
tell of five police officers being gunned down simply because they are white
police officers. Two of my daughters are
married to law enforcement officers. I
grieve for these families. I feel angry.
I see the
freedoms we enjoy eroding away and I feel the oppressive politically correct
nonsense of misguided leaders being forced on us. I feel angry.
In
Ephesians 4:26 the Bible tells us to be angry….that’s nice cause boy I am
angry. But wait, there is more. It says, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are
still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Be angry and sin not.
Anger is a
natural response when there is injustice and cruelty and senseless pain
inflected on others. Smacking people
doesn’t fall into the “sin not” area.
Becoming a vigilante probably isn’t the right thing either. Our true enemy is not flesh and blood. Notice that the verse warns us not to give
the devil a foothold. Presidential
candidates are not the enemy. Racist
hate filled activists are not the enemy. Our anger and our action should be
directed toward the true enemy. He hates
when we pray, so pray hard. Pray for
those who are hurting, pray for those with whom you differ. Pray for your community and your
leaders. Pray for truth and light to
shine.
Our enemy
also hates when we forgive and when we encourage one another. So forgive and encourage each other. Our enemy also hates when we praise love and
praise the Messiah. Love Him, and praise
Him, draw close to Him, hear His voice as He shows you what to do with your
anger. Use the strength and power of your anger against the real enemy.
Be angry………….but sin not.
