Antidote For The Poison Of Anger
Wednesday October 19, 2016
The only antidote for hurt, frustration, and anger is love and plenty of it. Jesus offers to fill our lives with love that runs deeper than any wound. Will we receive it? Many of us reject Jesus’ offer of love. We want love from the people we want love from – whether they are healthy enough to give it to us or not. We’d rather live in anger and frustration at their lack of loving us than open our hearts to the rich and freely given love God offers.
And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:30-32 NLT)
Anger can only be dealt with by receiving love and forgiveness from God. When we actually experience that love, we’ll want to pass it on to others. We are called to forgive as God forgives us. Jesus died for all the wrongs done to us and by us. Our violence of heart, attitude, or action only creates more hurt. Jesus took the violence in our hearts to the cross so that we could receive forgiveness and healing in exchange. Why hold on to our pain and resentment when Jesus has already dealt with it?
So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NLT)
Hanging on to our bitterness and seeking revenge only sickens our soul. The resulting anger acts as a poison that destroys us on the inside. The disease of anger can actually spread to others, resulting in them getting sick as well.
We love because God first loved us. We can dare to forgive others because we know we’ve been forgiven and accepted by God. What steps am I willing to take to deal with the anger which may arise in me today?
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