Don't Make Me Angry. You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry!

That word for righteousness can also mean justice, as in human anger does not produce the justice that God desires. So if we are wanting justice for something that someone does or how someone has wronged us, our human anger won’t achieve this. In fact, many times that anger causes us to take matters into our own hands instead of letting God be the final judge. As the scripture says in Romans 12:18-19 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. And then in verse 21 it says - Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Isn’t that the struggle that we all have when we get angry? Will we be overcome by evil, or will we overcome evil with good?

Ephesians 4:26-27 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.

“In your anger.” It says in your anger. That assumes that you will get angry, that anger is a natural human emotion. It doesn’t say “Do not get angry, because anger is a sin.” I’ve heard preachers talk about it that way. That’s incorrect. Anger is not sin; it’s a natural human emotion that even God feels. It’s what anger can become, what you do with your anger.

And what do you think it means to not let the sun go down while you are still angry? Have you ever gone to bed angry about something, and then you can’t let it go. It keeps you awake. It makes you toss and turn. It becomes more than anger, doesn’t it?

It becomes a grudge and it changes us. Slowly that anger that we allowed to grow replaces the love that was in our hearts. It begins to destroy our love. It gives the devil a foothold (like his foot’s in the door).

Therefore it says in Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Get rid of it! Don’t hold onto it! Don’t allow it to take root and grow. You won’t like what it becomes… what fruit it produces in your life. I’ll say one thing: It definitely won’t produce the fruit of the Spirit, as in “Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self-control.” No, just the opposite. Get rid of it before you are overcome with evil. Overcome evil with good. “How?” you say. Get rid of it and give it to God.

Let me ask you: Has what you’re feeling ever driven you to your knees?

Have you ever folded your hands in prayer and asked your Heavenly Father, “Lord, help me with what I’m feeling right now. Please don’t allow this bad thing that has happened to me cause me to go astray. I release my desire for justice and payback. I put that in your hands, Father. And I choose love, forgiveness, and mercy instead. I choose to forgive as you have forgiven me.”?

What if you did? What if you said that prayer the next time you get angry?