Anger

 Ephesians 4:26 ESV

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 


We might be tempted to think of anger as an unreservedly bad thing, but the Apostle Paul reveals that it isn't necessarily so. If we're not angry at injustices like abuse and violence there's something wrong. Nevertheless, Paul sees the need to add the caveat 'and do not sin'. 

It's not necessarily a sin to be angry at sin. It is wrong however to lose our tempers. God's anger is momentary: we shouldn't harbour anger and bitterness in our hearts.

I've tended to think of not letting the sun go down on our anger to be to do with our relationships, and it is of course. The marriage relationship is the classic example. We shouldn't harbour a bad tempered attitude towards our nearest and dearest.

I had a bit of an epiphany this morning though, as I nurse a hangover of badtemperedness from yesterday. We shouldn't let the sun go down on any type of anger: even if it's towards ourselves as individuals. If we're harbouring anger at ourselves, how can we love ourselves; and if we can't love ourselves, how can we love our neighbours and even God himself?

'God, have mercy upon us for our badtemperedness. Please kick the devil out from the footholds he might have gained in our lives. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen'.

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