Are you Angry With Someone?
There are going to be times in life when people will offend you or cause you to feel angry (Matthew 6: 14-15). When you become angry what should you do? Is anger a sin?
According to God’s Word anger is not a sin, but anger can cause us to sin (Ephesians 4: 26-27). “When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him].” When anger becomes malice, bitterness, hate, depression, worry, or anxiety we have let our anger overcome us. God’s Word says don’t let your anger continue before the sun goes down and don’t let the devil have a foothold - which means place.
So when we are angry with someone, how should we respond? The answer is we are called to forgive that person. Forgiveness is giving up your right to get revenge so that you can be free from the hurt and pain. God wants us to forgive because He forgave us (Colossians 3: 12-14), so that God can forgive you (Matthew 6: 14-15), and so that we don’t give the devil an opportunity to take advantage of us (2 Corinthians 2: 10-11). The fact that God forgave us of our sins, motivates and gives us the ability to forgive the people who have hurt us.
How often should we forgive someone? We are called to forgive a person all the time (Matthew 18: 21-22). There is no such thing as keeping a record of what someone did to us. God does not keep a record of our sin, He expects us to do the same with us others in our life (Psalm 130: 3-4).
Who will give us justice for what the person has done against us? God will grant us justice (Romans 12: 17-19). Leave it to God, He knows best.
If there is someone in your life that has hurt you go to God and ask Him to help you forgive that person. Say a prayer like this, God I forgive (say the name), for (say what he/she did do you - such rejection, betrayal, abuse, mistreatment, gossiping). I want to be free and no longer want to have ill thoughts about (say the name). In Jesus Name. Amen.
