TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE
Memorize this Verse: (Cover the verse text and using just the first letters of each word try to recite the entire passage.)
26. B Y A A S N L N T S G D U Y W
“Be ye angry … and sin not” (quoted from Psalm 4:4). By New Testament standards, anger can be either good or bad, depending on motive and purpose. Paul may have been sanctioning righteous indignation, anger at evil. This type of anger hates injustice, immorality, ungodliness and every other sin.
When such anger is unselfish and based on love for God and others, it not only is permissible but commanded. Jesus expresses this righteous anger (see Matthew 21:12; Mark 3:5; John 2:15).
Even Jesus got angry; the sin is not in the anger. Do not be angry without a cause. We must not hold a grudge. We must forgive. If we were still angry at the end of the day, it would indicate that we were holding a grudge. We must be quick to forgive.
Jesus was always angered when the Father was maligned or when others were mistreated, but He was never selfishly angry at what was done against Him. That is the measure of righteous anger.
Anger is sin, is anger that is self defensive and self serving. On the other hand, that is resentful of what is done against oneself. It is the anger that leads to murder and to God’s judgment (Matthew 5:21-22).
Anger that is selfish, undisciplined and vindictive is sinful and has no place even temporarily in the Christian life. But anger that is unselfish and is based on love for God and concern for others not only is permissible but commanded. Genuine love cannot help being angered at that which injures the object of that love.
God will not forgive us, if we do not forgive our fellowman. If we do not quickly forgive, we will become bitter. Bitterness is a sin.
The church cannot function properly if its members shade the truth with one another or fail to work together honestly and lovingly. We cannot effectively minister to each other or with each other if we do not speak “the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15), especially among our fellow believers.
“Sun go down”: Even righteous anger can turn to bitterness, so it should be set aside by the end of each day. If anger is prolonged, it may become hostile and violate the instruction of (Romans 12:17-21). Even the best motivated anger can sour, and we are therefore to put it aside at the end of the day.
Today's Bible Reading Plan selections can be found below. If you don't have a Bible with you, just click the references to read each passage online:
Old Testament
Hosea 7-8 — 7.5 minutes
Job 25-26 — 3.0 minutes
New Testament
John 14:22-31 — 3.0 minutes
Revelation 2:1-17 — 5.5 minutes
Total Average Read Time — 19.0 minutes
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