Christianity is about goodness and light.
Right?
We must always smile, have positive words to say, and be a beacon of encouragement to everyone around us.
Oh, only if that were possible. The reality follows along a different set of parameters.
We are emotionally connected people. Our body’s chemical responses drive us in times of stress. Our duty is to manage our behaviors so that love is what others see in us.
Even Jesus was filled with anger, and that didn’t stop him from being the Son of the only God. He remains our model of behavior because he followed this vital rule found in Ephesians 4:26:
“Be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
Anger isn’t a sin. It’s how we’re wired. Hormones (chemical messengers) fill our blood, responses overwhelm us, and the anger is there. This verse tells us what makes anger a sin. It’s when we don’t resolve our anger immediately.
How can we do that?
- First, take a deep breath and think before speaking. Don’t say anything harsh until the anger passes.
- Next, apologize if we let our words slip. Explain that we spoke out of turn and that we’ll do better next time.
- Work out why we got angry and see if the situation can be changed. If not, ask God to change us and how we respond.
Jesus is our standard. Anger that festers becomes a sin. We must strive to be a beacon of encouragement. With Christ’s help, we can reach our goal.
Jesus’ example is our shining beacon through every trial that comes our way.
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