Angry like Jesus

"So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area..."John 2:15 (NIV).
Men get angry…This is simply a fact of life. We need to know that it is OK to get angry, but we need to understand how God wants us to express our anger, and what he wants us to be angry about. As Christian men, how do we deal with our anger and how do we express it faithfully.
Looking at the passage above from John 2:15, what can we learn from Jesus. At first reading John 2:12-16, it may appear that everything happens all at once. But think about it. He did not immediately lash out. Jesus had to first "make a whip of cords". This would have taken him some time. Time that he used to "process" his anger. Time he used to pray to God for guidance on how to express his anger appropriately.
For an example of how not to react, read the story of Samson in Judges. Samson was selfish, angry and vengeful. The NIV study notes for Judges15:7 says "Samson's fight with the Philistines was primarily motivated by personal anger and revenge rather than by concern for God's deliverance of the Hebrew people. This selfishness and lack of commitment to God eventually led to his ruin." As Christian men, we must think before we lash out in anger. When we do get angry, and feel we need to express it, make sure it is righteous anger (John2:15, Luke 19:45) and not selfish anger, like that of Samson. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Eph 4:29). "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Eph 4:31-32). Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for a man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." (James 1:19-20) We must all make our own whip of cords every time we begin to feel angry...and respond in a Godly way whether it be with compassion or with righteous anger.

Written by: Mike Popovich Senior Chief

Devotion

"But you did not learn Christ in this way," Ephesians 4:20

In what way did you learn Christ? The verse states that there is a specific way in which the apostle Paul felt that the Ephesians had learned of Christ. In today's world there are so many ways in which we can gather information. TV, Radio, Newspapers, Books of all kinds, and of course the Internet. We are bombarded with thoughts and ideas that may or may not be reliable. The Bible tells us to be on guard for false information and false doctrines that will come our way, and that we are to defend the faith from all those that would lead men away from the Truth.
Jesus said that he is "the way ,the truth,and the life; no one comes to the Father,but through Me" John 14:6. So it is vital that we know him as the Truth because the Truth is under attack in our generation. If the Truth of the Bible can be discredited, twisted and misrepresented, as it often is even in churches all across this nation, then souls will be lost for eternity. This is the wrong way to learn of Christ! The best way to learn of Christ is and always has been through his Word! The Bible is the Inspired, anointed, appointed and final word on the Truth. We are responsible for having a right understanding of that Truth. Our challenge today is to stay in the Word of God, not be quick to buy what the world is selling. Instead we should be speaking Truth in love, as Jesus said "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32