Unreligious: Week 3 - Day 2
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, please strengthen our hearts and minds to withstand the evils of this world.
“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
REFLECT:
My wife and I were married nearly ten years ago. If you would have asked me at the time, I would have told you my wife was marrying a guy who was calm, cool and collected, but I was actually a guy who was full of anger. My outward personality generally presented as laid back and happy-go-lucky, but inside I was quick to anger at the slightest provocation, real or imagined. My wife was often on the receiving end of that anger, normally in the form of yelling and hurtful comments. My anger nearly destroyed our marriage.
Jesus equates anger to murder. That may seem a little melodramatic, but when anger runs your life it slowly destroys your heart, as well as the hearts of those who are impacted by that anger. Thankfully I came to know Jesus before I killed our marriage. My acceptance of his love and mercy have largely released me from my anger. Our marriage is thriving today, and it’s all because of the redemptive power of Jesus.
APPLY:
Are you feeling angry right now? Are feelings of anger a regular part of your daily life? If so, call out to Jesus to take that anger from you. He loves it when we ask him for help.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Thank you Jesus for the infinite love you have for us. Thank you for always being just what we need exactly when we need it.