Thursday, March 19, 2026

           Anger can be dangerous.  If left unchecked and unattended, it can quickly escalate into something that is out of control and even reckless.  While these are some occasions where anger might be righteous in its expression (for example Jesus’ cleansing the temple or anger today that leads to seeking justice and action about horrible things like child abuse, hunger and human trafficking), quite often human anger is sinful and expressed in sinful ways. The Bible does address anger—on numerous occasions.  One such place is Ephesians 4:26-27.  We read, “’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.”  These two verses provide some excellent practical guidance for us to follow each day.  Let’s take a look at the truth God has for us to see.
            First, we read the words “your anger.”  We have to own the anger we may feel.  We can easily blame others or circumstances.  But anger is the reaction or response that we choose.  We can sin in response to our anger or we can act in ways that are healthy, good and even constructive.  Anger is a choice.  If we say that we react without thinking or that anger comes automatically more often than not, then we might have to explore how and why that happens.  It has been said that we cannot always choose our circumstances, but we can choose how we respond and live in them.  If anger has become a problem for us, then we have to own it and acknowledge it.
            Second, we can choose not to sin when we are angry.  The Bible commands us “do not sin.”  Jesus did not sin when he was angry about the moneychangers in the temple or the many times that Israel’s religious leaders tried to trap him.  Anger is a God-made emotion, so it is not inherently wrong or evil.  It becomes sinful when we respond by saying, thinking or doing things that are wrong.  To redeem anger, turn that energy or emotion into something good.  Let your anger inspire you to serve the Lord or others...to look for solutions and work for better outcomes.  Be on guard that anger does not lead you to lash out verbally or physically in regrettable ways.
            Third, we should be careful not to hold on to anger.  The Bible commands us to get over and to let go of our anger before the sun goes down.  Holding on to anger can give rise to bitterness, vengeance and some really destructive and dark behavior.  Resentment grows in the garden of prolonged anger.  The longer that anger simmers and lingers, the worse it becomes.  We should control our anger and deal with it quickly to prevent Satan from gaining any ground in our hearts. A good benchmark for dealing with anger is before the “sun goes down.”  Do not go to sleep angry so you will not wake up angry and, likely, lose a night of restful sleep too.
            Fourth, we need to realize that anger can often give the enemy a foothold or stronghold in our lives.  Satan gladly takes whatever part of our lives that we want to cede to him.  However, he is not content to take just that.  He looks to expand and weave his way into our hearts, minds and lives.  Greed can lead to stealing.  Anger can lead to violent actions.  Gossip can lead to maligning others.  We should never willingly do things that allow Satan to gain greater influence against us.  Anger can be like an incubator that Satan uses to bring about things that are far worse and longer lasting.  Take the Bible’s directives to heart and deal with anger before it leads you further than you wish to go and costs you more than you wish to pay.  Psalm 37:8 says, “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.”  Let Christ be Lord over your emotions and your responses. Choose to deal with anger before it leads to evil.  Have a great Thursday!