Anger

BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Ephesians 4:26-27 

Anger is a powerful emotion.  This danger of anger (or any strong emotion) is that the emotion will take over and make the believer lose self control.  It is important to realize, however, that there is a place in our lives for anger.  Like any emotion the way to deal with it is not by hiding from it or denying it or pretending that it doesn't exist, it is by submitting it to the Lord.  If we choose not to keep short accounts our anger can become like a low burning fire that can flare up at a moments notice. Trying to hide our emotions, or hide from them only gives the devil an opportunity (a foothold) in our lives.  As believers we must constantly be in fellowship with the Lord, submitting our thoughts and feelings to His Spirit and His word.  The consequences of not doing so always bring destructive results.  

Righteousness

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, If You are willing, You can make me clean. Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out  His  hand and touched him, and said to him,  I am willing; be cleansed. (Mark 1:40, 41 NKJV) This passage is constantly astounding to me.  It is another wonderful illustration of how Christ is entirely other, separated and holy.  Levitical law commanded that people with certain skin diseases were to be sent away. They were pronounced "unclean" and henceforth to be cut off so that their uncleanliness would not infect the "clean" or righteous people.  Such is the nature of human righteousness.  It can be sullied, dirtied and ruined.  Yet Christ has a different kind of righteousness.  Impervious to stain.  When Jesus touched this unclean man Jesus did not become unclean, this man became clean!  In this amazing account I see clearly why it is so valuable that we have been given Christ's righteous.

Joyous Anticipation

Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1

Our children wake up each morning with an overwhelming excitement and anticipation for the day ahead.  Of the 500 questions I field before 7:15 in the morning one of the early ones is always, "What do we get to do today?"  For these sweet little children there is no question that each day holds endless potential for fun and opportunity to do the many things that they enjoy.  Sadly, as we age those simple joys of waking up and facing a new day seem to get old, or become common place.  However, we don't have to lose that sense of wonder and hope.  It is found in a relationship with the Living Lord.  We can wake each morning with that same sensation knowing that our Father has much in store for us with each passing day.  Let us meet that with joyful singing and shouting to the Rock of our salvation!

A Message that Keeps

This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. (Acts 2:32 NASB) The "Church Calendar" has advantages and disadvantages.  As an advantage, it gives us an opportunity each year to think about key events in the life of Jesus Christ (His birth, His death, He and the Father sending the Spirit).  This is good, because humans forget important things easily.  The danger of these traditions is that we may be tempted to think: "Good, I thought about that for the year." Then go on our merry way.  The message of Jesus Christ dying for us and rising again on the third day, to bring us to God is our message year round.  It is the sum total of all of the hope that we have and all of the best news that we have to give the world around us.  As we enjoy the celebration, let's take it into the rest of the year.

Putting on a Show

"So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." (Matthew 6:2 NASB) It is easy to do things in order to receive recognition.  It is much easier to do the right thing when you know someone will notice it.  Sometimes we can be most annoyed when we do the right thing and we do not get the thanks or praise to which we feel entitled.  We must remember Who our true audience is.  When we insist on being recognized it is because we don't understand, or worse yet, don't believe, that God truly sees what we do when we rest in Him.  Furthermore, God is the giver of eternal rewards.  A clear view of God means that we will not rely upon the thanks and praise of men, because we are only concerned with the opinion that matters most: that of Our Lord.