“I can feel your anger. I am defenseless. Take your weapon! Strike me down with all of your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!”
These chilling words were delivered by Scottish actor Ian McDiarmid as he played the role of the Emperor in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. In this memorable scene, the Emperor fruitlessly tried to sway the film’s hero, Luke Skywalker, to join him on the dark side of evil. But anger itself wasn’t enough to make Luke evil. It happened when he let rage consume him to the point of acting out.
David could have reacted to Saul’s murderous rage and let his own anger get the best of him (1 Samuel 23:15). He could have become enraged and slain the king who was trying to kill him (1 Samuel 24:4). But he left Saul in God’s hands, not willing to use his own hands to harm him (1 Samuel 24:10). Hundreds of years later, Jesus displayed divine and righteous anger as He overturned tables and used a whip to drive out those who were misusing the temple courts (Matthew 21:12-13; John 2:13-22). Jesus wasn’t being ruled by anger; He was displaying His holy and perfect nature. Anger can be bad (like Luke Skywalker’s) or good (like Christ’s).
It’s not pleasant to encounter anger, especially the righteous anger of God. It can be comforting, however, to see that anger itself is not sinful. What we do with our anger—whether we “give in to hate” or not—makes all the difference.
Today, it’s likely that someone or something in our lives will cause us to become angry. In that moment may we live out this truth by God’s power: “The wise will calm anger” (Proverbs 29:8). Let’s lean on His Spirit to help us grow in love, patience, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-24).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 1:35-51
More:
Read Matthew 5:21-25 and John 2:13-22. Consider what Jesus reveals about anger and also the reasons He was filled with righteous anger.
Next:
Think back to a time when you lashed out in anger, or when someone lashed out at you. Was the reaction appropriate? What can you learn from that experience?
Gary Shultz on June 17, 2016 at 6:45 am
Well, it looks like we are off to a great start. We have an anonymous author and upset people, real life to me. The article does sound a little “Jeff” like, but anger is the topic. I so respect those years David was able to bend to God and away from anger, probably one reason he was called a man after God’s heart. We read in Proverbs it is better to control one self than conquer a city. Everyone gets their buttons pushed at some point, but as stated the fruit of the Spirit is usually not producing anger. To cool your jets in sticky situations is a great testimony to the ruler of ones life. Thanks to the ODJ community member.
gagirllive on June 17, 2016 at 8:00 am
Wow…very interesting. What can I say? We all have a dark side. BUT praise the Lord, there is victory in Jesus! He has brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light! Walking in that light is the challenge, isn’t it? It’s only by yielding to the Spirit instead of our flesh that we can “be angry and sin not”. There is a huge difference between Christ’s display of righteous anger and our personal rants and raves. Praying that we all act like children of God—children of light. The whole world is angry. They need to see a different response from us. Thanks, ODJ contributor, for a word aptly spoken. Grace and peace to all.
sdwise on June 17, 2016 at 10:21 am
This is so appropriate for such a time as we are living in. Everyone seems to be angry about someething or other. Anger acted out in verbal and physical attacks are happening every day. Just look at the news. The sad commentary is that “Christian” people are committing or sanctioning it. satan is crafty and he will use part of the scriptures taken out of context to justify his agenda.
Many of our churches are trying to grow their income by selling things, promoting campaigns to increase funds and grow their membership. The word simple tells us that in Philippians 3:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”. Our part is to do as Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” and Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”
Jesus came to show us a more excellent way. His anger was about what was being done to take away from the purpose of God’s house. The house’s primary concer is prayer. Pray for our strength to stand against temptaion to sin. Pray for those who have succomed to sin. Pray for those who need to repent of sin. We should not gloat over the demise of those who die in their sins, not having accepted Jesus as their Lord and savior. It is God’s will that as stated by John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Whosoever means me, you, liars, cheaters, adulterers, murderers, and the list goes on. “11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
God’s people must speak against what is wrong according to God’s, but not hate the person. Jesus showed compassion to the woman caught in adultery, and He revealed Himself to the woman at the well to and used her to tell others to come to Christ in John 4:29 “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”
godlove on June 17, 2016 at 11:59 am
Anger can (wrongfully) feel like just another emotion, so it’s easy to get negligent and forget the danger in anger. However, without self-control – fruit of the Spirit – anger can easily lead to sin, be it sin in words or sin in actions. I think God’s anger (the Father and the Son) is the only righteous anger, for us we run the risk of giving the devil a path into our heart. That’s why the advice in Ephesians 4:26 is of utmost importance: “Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” The best antidote to anger, as David showed Saul, is love, for love is patient and love is kind, and it is not easily angered (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Thank you to the author of this thought-provoking piece, very pertinent topic for all believers.
misteradiant on June 17, 2016 at 1:15 pm
well, last night i was the first to leave a comment. i was rightfully upset at the verse being linked to biblia (rather than bible gateway as usual), which not only forces one to read in the translation they prefer (i prefer NIV and it was difficult to get that from them), but they hammer visitors with SIGN UP links promising FREE books. who doesn’t like books? i spend a few minutes signing up. i get an email to confirm. click this click that only to discover the “free” books are only “free” after spending nearly a thousand dollars on their “programs.”
i wrote that the whole thing was far from honest. it was manipulative. then i quoted john 2:16.
this morning i had an email stating another member wrote in reply pointing out the irony of my anger. saw that coming. what i did not see coming was that odj would delete my post and that first (kind) reply. it seems if one has anything to say that doesn’t tow the company line, well, it’s very much like the pharisees, isn’t it?
surely this will be deleted by the powers that be. because money trumps truth. and that’s okay. i will have deleted my account so i am no longer bombarded with emails that are only intended to turn our father’s house into a market. i can get my daily devotionals from other sources.
with great sorrow;
MR
hsnpoor on June 17, 2016 at 1:32 pm
I’m embarrassed to share this story, but it’s so apropos, I can’t not. Yesterday, at lunch, I went to COSTCO to pick up a few things & grab a quick lunch. I paid for the “quick” lunch when I checked out and went to the pick-up line. Of course, since I was in a hurry, the pick up line moved slower than the regular one and there was a person ahead of me who clearly thought his time/interests were more important than others (I won’t go into long explanation on that one—just trust me). Well, that angered me and I started muttering in my spirit and eventually out loud. I eventually get my food, get to my car, unlock it & toss my keys on the driver side seat, along with my hot dog/drink & purse and begin to unload my cart into the car. Somehow (I have no idea how), the car door closes and the car is locked! The driver side window is just cracked, but the passenger side window is down just barely enough for me to get my arm in to unlock & open the door (whew!); HOWEVER, when I try to remove my arm from the window, I can’t. It’s stuck! I got the attention of someone who came over & helped me extricate myself (stop laughing!) and I was on my way. Think I’m through…nope! So, I’m driving and eating my hot dog. By the time I get back to the office, there is more hot dog fixings on me than in me and I spilled the drink in the car. Do you think, like I do, that anger is something that our Abba Father hates to the point that he will discipline us about it (I got off easy, but I sure got the message!)? Next time I hear myself muttering in anger, I’m gonna turn that mutter into a prayer and trust God will answer….
gagirllive on June 17, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Too funny, Kim! Our Father has a sense of humor and doesn’t mind disciplining us with it. I’d say you learned the peaceable fruit of righteousness after that one. Hot dog! 🙂 Blessings to you, my friend.
hsnpoor on June 17, 2016 at 4:00 pm
LOL!!
al061016 on June 17, 2016 at 4:32 pm
Every time I thought about the stories of David, I said to my, how about if any one of us had those things we did, nice and primarily not so nice, disclosed in the Bible for all to see for years to come? We probably would feel so angry, embarrassing, and humiliated. However, Bible truthfully recorded what actually happened and how David responded to each situation.
David is not a perfect person, just like all of us. However, God still chooses him as He looks at our hearts. We may fail a hundred and one times, but as soon as we turn our hearts to Him, He is more than willing to give us another opportunity.
All 3 devotionals today work so perfectly well together.
God has the ability to change our hearts and change how we see Him, see ourselves, and see this world and people. Ultimately, His plan is for true connection/communication to occur between us and Him and everything He creates in His love.