Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Conflict”
Our Bible verse for today: “Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the Devil an opportunity.” Ephesians 4:26-27 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Control your anger or your anger will control you.”
Numerous studies have reported that somewhere around 50% of all marriages in the USA today end in divorce. What’s especially confusing about that statistic is that on their wedding day, none of those couples expected theirs to be a marriage that would end in divorce. Nobody stands at the altar reciting their vows while thinking, “I’ll be happily married to this person for maybe five years or so, but then the relationship will start to fall apart and by the ten year mark we will be divorced.” Nobody thinks like that on their wedding day. Everyone expects their marriage to last. And yet, approximately half of them don’t.
And then there’s life in the average church. Viewing church life from the perspective of a Pastor and Counselor, I’m always amazed at how mean and sometimes hateful Christians can be towards each other. Years ago I came across an interesting little book entitled, “Crucified by Christians.” Actually the full title was “Healing for those who have been … Crucified by Christians”. Why does such a book even exist? Why would it be necessary?
There are many reasons for both of the examples cited above, but one of the most common causes of runaway conflict is uncontrolled anger. Anger is actually a normal human emotion. All of us get angry sometimes. Even Jesus got angry on occasions. And as in the case of Jesus’ anger, sometimes anger is appropriate and even needed. We should all get angry about child abuse, or genocide in Iraq, or corrupt politicians taking bribes.
But anger has to be properly channeled and we need to have positive control over it. If we don’t control our anger, our anger will control us. And that is when people get hurt. Uncontrolled anger results in things being said that should not have been said. Uncontrolled anger keeps a conflict going long after it should have been resolved. Uncontrolled anger is a tool in the hands of Satan.
As we’ve learned in previous devotional messages on this subject, the true nature of conflict is spiritual. Therefore we can know that the Bible has the spiritual counsel we need to appropriately deal with conflict and the things that cause and perpetuate it. Let’s end today with one of those pearls of Biblical wisdom:
“My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” James 1:19-20 (HCSB)
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 