“You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk.” (Ephesians 4:31, NET 2nd ed.)
Two boys faced off in the playground. Their faces were red with rage. While playing, one pushed the other a little too forcefully. The other fell but came back up yelling at the first boy. As the pushing increased, one boy finally had it and said, “You made me mad!” The other boy, breathing heavily, yelled back, “You made me madder!”
These kinds of interactions on an elementary school playground were very common when I was young. They are common today. Boys will roughhouse. They will play hard. They may push, shove, and fight. I’m sure the hormone testosterone fuels some of the rowdiness. Still, what the boys on that playground are saying is not quite correct. They think the other boy “made them mad”. In reality, anger comes from within you. YOU make you mad. YOU choose the anger of emotion. YOU choose when to let anger loose. YOU choose when to let it go. YOU choose what to do with it.
Anger is not wrong when used in a godly manner. For example, God’s “wrath” is spoken of throughout the Bible. However, God’s wrath is used for justice and is unleashed to save humanity from sin and death. Unlike the Greek pantheon, God in Christ only uses wrath when it is warranted, not as a manipulative tactic or for pure destructive fun. God is not a sadist who enjoys causing pain, callous to the suffering of others, or unemotional.
Even Jesus exhibited anger, though extremely rarely. In John 2:15, for example, Jesus “made a whip of cords” to drive out the moneychangers and their animals from the temple. He tossed out their money and overturned their tables. Why? The moneychangers used their sales to manipulate the temple-goers, charging high prices for offerings in the temple, making lots of money off people who just wanted to worship God. Even the poor had a difficult time paying for their offerings because of the moneychangers. Still, after this burst of seeming anger, there is no mention that Jesus remained angry after he left the temple that day. Jesus’ anger was very short and very righteous.
Ephesians 4:26-27 from our New Testament adds an interesting warning to the use of anger. It cautions you to: “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26–27, ESV). This scripture alludes to the fact any anger (even righteous anger) that lasts for too long may offer the devil “opportunity” to attack you. You see, anger can be used for righteous purposes (as Jesus exhibited). But when anger lingers, it can poison your attitude, corrupt your thinking, and “give opportunity to the devil”. Even anger that is deserved or righteous will, given enough time, poison your very soul and wreck your relationship with God.
Since you are responsible for your anger, knowing anger is a dangerous emotion, the scripture chosen for this meditation gives further warning. Ephesians 4:31 commands that YOU “put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk”. This scripture implies that YOU have the choice to use anger, and all its relatives like bitterness (long term anger), quarreling (a chip on your shoulder), and evil slanderous talk (anger mixed with jealousy). This verse of the Bible shows that YOU have the power to “put away” or get rid of angry thoughts and attitudes. YOU must give over your anger (and its relatives) to God. Righteous anger is necessary. But even righteous anger needs to be put away before it poisons your heart and soul. All anger is dangerous. YOU need to control it. YOU need to know when to use righteous anger and when to let anger go before it destroys you from the inside out.
There were many Biblical people who exhibited this “getting rid” of anger, even righteous anger. From the pages of the book of Genesis, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Thereafter, he was wrongly accused and thrown into prison. Joseph was innocent on all these counts. He deserved righteous anger. I’m sure he felt it but dealt with it in a godly manner. However, God used Joseph’s situation for the good of all Israel. And Joseph forgave his brothers instead of having them imprisoned or worse due to their evil deeds. Jesus, too, showed an ability to reign in His righteous anger. Even while suffering on the cross, Jesus did not bring down lightning and plagues upon his tormenters. Instead, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for a crime he did not commit. Despite the injustices he faced, Mandela emerged without harboring long-term anger against his oppressors. Instead, he chose to foster reconciliation in South Africa, leading the nation away from apartheid with a vision of forgiveness and unity. His life exemplifies the profound strength it takes to rise above the wrongs done to us and to embrace love over bitterness. He was another one of God’s witnesses to the power of faith and love to overcome anger and resentment.
With God’s help and the Holy Spirit’s direction, you will learn when to unleash your righteous anger and when to tamp it down. No matter what, you must learn to “put away bitterness, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk” (Ephesians 4:31). If you are prone to rage or susceptible to hold a grudge, this may be very difficult for you to do. BUT YOU MUST! Your soul needs the freedom that comes from mercy and loving forgiveness when you suffer for doing right or are wrongfully accused and judged. God needs you to rise above the sin and evil of this world. With Jesus as your example, never let unrighteous anger and bitterness take away your peace and joy while eroding your love of God.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
I come this day to Your throne with this prayer, Heavenly Father! In Jesus Christ, my Savior, I look to Your wisdom and desire to fulfill Your truth.
When I am judged, help me to remain truthful.
When I am wronged, bring me to forgiveness and grace.
When I suffer for doing right, let any anger be righteous and short-lived. I endeavor to be obedient instead of vengeful.
When others make fun of me, keep my words and actions acceptable in Your sight, Oh Lord!
Like Jesus long before me, I choose faithfulness over getting my way. I choose agape love over bitterness. Keep my thoughts and attitude free from obsessing over past wrongs past mistakes, and past grievances. It is all too easy to be mired in a painful past.
I thank You for freeing me, Oh Lord my God! You have freed me from being a prisoner to sinful error. You have shown me the path to righteousness. You have forgiven my sin. I offer up this day any anger and resentment that darkens my mood. I praise Your love for me, even when I stress over little things, become obstinate, or am rigidly intolerant. How easy it is to judge others wrongly and judge myself with wrongful intent!
May I be found faithful and obedient today, dear Lord! Amen.
These kinds of interactions on an elementary school playground were very common when I was young. They are common today. Boys will roughhouse. They will play hard. They may push, shove, and fight. I’m sure the hormone testosterone fuels some of the rowdiness. Still, what the boys on that playground are saying is not quite correct. They think the other boy “made them mad”. In reality, anger comes from within you. YOU make you mad. YOU choose the anger of emotion. YOU choose when to let anger loose. YOU choose when to let it go. YOU choose what to do with it.
Anger is not wrong when used in a godly manner. For example, God’s “wrath” is spoken of throughout the Bible. However, God’s wrath is used for justice and is unleashed to save humanity from sin and death. Unlike the Greek pantheon, God in Christ only uses wrath when it is warranted, not as a manipulative tactic or for pure destructive fun. God is not a sadist who enjoys causing pain, callous to the suffering of others, or unemotional.
Even Jesus exhibited anger, though extremely rarely. In John 2:15, for example, Jesus “made a whip of cords” to drive out the moneychangers and their animals from the temple. He tossed out their money and overturned their tables. Why? The moneychangers used their sales to manipulate the temple-goers, charging high prices for offerings in the temple, making lots of money off people who just wanted to worship God. Even the poor had a difficult time paying for their offerings because of the moneychangers. Still, after this burst of seeming anger, there is no mention that Jesus remained angry after he left the temple that day. Jesus’ anger was very short and very righteous.
Ephesians 4:26-27 from our New Testament adds an interesting warning to the use of anger. It cautions you to: “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26–27, ESV). This scripture alludes to the fact any anger (even righteous anger) that lasts for too long may offer the devil “opportunity” to attack you. You see, anger can be used for righteous purposes (as Jesus exhibited). But when anger lingers, it can poison your attitude, corrupt your thinking, and “give opportunity to the devil”. Even anger that is deserved or righteous will, given enough time, poison your very soul and wreck your relationship with God.
Since you are responsible for your anger, knowing anger is a dangerous emotion, the scripture chosen for this meditation gives further warning. Ephesians 4:31 commands that YOU “put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk”. This scripture implies that YOU have the choice to use anger, and all its relatives like bitterness (long term anger), quarreling (a chip on your shoulder), and evil slanderous talk (anger mixed with jealousy). This verse of the Bible shows that YOU have the power to “put away” or get rid of angry thoughts and attitudes. YOU must give over your anger (and its relatives) to God. Righteous anger is necessary. But even righteous anger needs to be put away before it poisons your heart and soul. All anger is dangerous. YOU need to control it. YOU need to know when to use righteous anger and when to let anger go before it destroys you from the inside out.
There were many Biblical people who exhibited this “getting rid” of anger, even righteous anger. From the pages of the book of Genesis, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Thereafter, he was wrongly accused and thrown into prison. Joseph was innocent on all these counts. He deserved righteous anger. I’m sure he felt it but dealt with it in a godly manner. However, God used Joseph’s situation for the good of all Israel. And Joseph forgave his brothers instead of having them imprisoned or worse due to their evil deeds. Jesus, too, showed an ability to reign in His righteous anger. Even while suffering on the cross, Jesus did not bring down lightning and plagues upon his tormenters. Instead, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for a crime he did not commit. Despite the injustices he faced, Mandela emerged without harboring long-term anger against his oppressors. Instead, he chose to foster reconciliation in South Africa, leading the nation away from apartheid with a vision of forgiveness and unity. His life exemplifies the profound strength it takes to rise above the wrongs done to us and to embrace love over bitterness. He was another one of God’s witnesses to the power of faith and love to overcome anger and resentment.
With God’s help and the Holy Spirit’s direction, you will learn when to unleash your righteous anger and when to tamp it down. No matter what, you must learn to “put away bitterness, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk” (Ephesians 4:31). If you are prone to rage or susceptible to hold a grudge, this may be very difficult for you to do. BUT YOU MUST! Your soul needs the freedom that comes from mercy and loving forgiveness when you suffer for doing right or are wrongfully accused and judged. God needs you to rise above the sin and evil of this world. With Jesus as your example, never let unrighteous anger and bitterness take away your peace and joy while eroding your love of God.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
I come this day to Your throne with this prayer, Heavenly Father! In Jesus Christ, my Savior, I look to Your wisdom and desire to fulfill Your truth.
When I am judged, help me to remain truthful.
When I am wronged, bring me to forgiveness and grace.
When I suffer for doing right, let any anger be righteous and short-lived. I endeavor to be obedient instead of vengeful.
When others make fun of me, keep my words and actions acceptable in Your sight, Oh Lord!
Like Jesus long before me, I choose faithfulness over getting my way. I choose agape love over bitterness. Keep my thoughts and attitude free from obsessing over past wrongs past mistakes, and past grievances. It is all too easy to be mired in a painful past.
I thank You for freeing me, Oh Lord my God! You have freed me from being a prisoner to sinful error. You have shown me the path to righteousness. You have forgiven my sin. I offer up this day any anger and resentment that darkens my mood. I praise Your love for me, even when I stress over little things, become obstinate, or am rigidly intolerant. How easy it is to judge others wrongly and judge myself with wrongful intent!
May I be found faithful and obedient today, dear Lord! Amen.