wow...

Wow...!
What do you say to the one who calls so angry...
No... I'm not OK...

You talk and try to fix...
but she says...
You don't understand...!
I'm not mad at him...
I'm frustrated 'cause I can't fix it...

The truth is...
she's right...
she can't fix it...
and neither can I...
no one can...

The only One who can fix...
is Him...
then only if we will allow Him to...
if we'll hear Him knock at the door...
and open up...
invite Him in...
eat with Him...
follow Him...

"...Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,

I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. ..."

Revelation 3:19-20 ESV

lean on Him... Isaiah 12:1-2...

You will say in that day:

"I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me,

your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord God is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation."

Isaiah 12:1-2 ESV

Our God has every right to be angry with us...

those whom He created... and gave charge of His creation...

took it... and broke it... in the very beginning...

But God... He is trustworthy... even in His anger...

He will not constantly accuse us,

nor remain angry forever.

Psalm 103:9 NLT

He does not constantly accuse... condemn... blame...

He chooses instead to save... redeem... forgive...

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,

that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

By his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 2:24 ESV

God Himself... became our means of salvation... through His Son... Jesus...

He took God's wrath... in its fullness... 

He took everything we deserved... and paid the price we couldn't...

How can you not trust a God...? who doesn't treat you as you deserve...? even in His anger...?

He does not deal with us according to our sins

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

Psalm 103:10 ESV

awe-full... anger...

There is an aspect of God's character that is awe-full...
one we should literally be full of awe over...

The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Psalm 103:8 ESV

 

He is... slow to anger...

 

We can too easily deceive ourselves... because He is slow to anger...

 

We can continue on a path of sin... with no immediate consequences...

 

Everything seems to be going along just fine...

there may have been a warning... or two...

friends giving wisdom you brush off...

maybe a twinge of guilt...

but you find your actions easy to justify...

 

God loves me... He forgives me...

 

Yes... He does love you...

He will forgive...

If you repent...

 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

1John 1:9 ESV

 

His lack of immediate response to sin...

His patience...

His mercy...

His grace...

when we don't receive it properly... reverently...

may let us go deep down into a pit of destruction...

 

Just like the prodigal son...

or the kings of His chosen people...

and the nation of Israel...

 

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,

"In returning and rest you shall be saved;

in quietness and trust shall be your strength."

But you were unwilling, and said, "No!..."

...therefore you shall flee away... your pursuers shall be swift.

A thousand shall flee at the threat of one;

at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left

like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,

like a signal on a hill.

Isaiah 30:15-17 ESV

 

A lack of understanding... of His slowness of anger...

can lead us to being pursued by the enemy...

till we are like a lone flag on the top of a hill...

a target... all alone... the consequences fearful... and grievous...

 

Stand in awe of His mercy... and grace...

or better yet...

bow low before Him... as One who is slow to anger...

 

Do not deceive yourself...

your sin is known...

it will have its effect...

 

Return to Him...

Rest in His way...

Know salvation...





thoughts on... anger...

Anger... I dealt with some this week...

I try to check the source of my anger... because so often... it's self-righteous... and not righteous...

All that self-righteous anger simply feeds the flesh... and not the spirit...

We are called to walk in the Spirit... but when we feed our flesh with anger... we simply give birth to more flesh...

"...Flesh gives birth to flesh,

but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ..." ---Jesus

John 3:6

The Spirit gives life... the flesh counts for nothing...

"...It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. ..." 

---Jesus

John 6:63 ESV

Speaking to a friend this morning... regarding her struggle with anger... this idea of Spirit... and flesh... came up in the conversation...

With a smile... I said... I don't think anger is a fruit of the Spirit... 

We reviewed... love... joy... peace... patience... kindness... goodness... faithfulness... gentleness... self-control... no anger... when it comes to the fruit of the Spirit...

This evening on the ride home... I wonder about this...

I know we are not to sin in our anger... and it's not a sin to experience anger...

The question comes...

As fruit-bearers of the Spirit... is there no anger because He says... Vengeance is Mine...?

Are we to trust God with injustice... and its outcome...?

The Beatitudes tell us of those who are blessed...
the poor in spirit...
those who mourn...
the meek...
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...
the merciful...
the pure in heart...
the peacemakers...
those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake...

But not those angered by injustice... even when it's righteous...

Not those who seek justice... they aren't listed... (unless they come under those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake... suffering trying to help others...)

Jesus... He's the One... who will bring about justice...

He's the only One... who can experience truly righteous anger...

But in the mean time... I'm thinking our role is to trust Him... wait on Him... until He brings justice...

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him

and he will bring justice to the nations.

He will not shout or cry out,

 or raise his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

he will not falter or be discouraged

till he establishes justice on earth. ..."

Isaiah 42:1-4

Even Jesus... until the time He fixes all things... is gentle... with those who are lost... patient... kind... self-controlled... when it comes to those... who are unrighteous...

However... the time will come... when He brings... establishes... justice on the earth...

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse!

The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, 

and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

Revelation 19:11 ESV

And that is what... we are to wait on... and trust in... as we walk in the Spirit... bearing His fruit... which does not include... anger...

Just some thoughts on... anger...