“This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous…Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” 1 John 3:11-12, 15 (NIV)
The first murder in the Bible was over worship (Gen. 4:1-8). Abel’s sacrifice was acceptable to God and Cain’s sacrifice was unacceptable. Infused with anger, Cain chose to murder his brother. Consequences ensued as God confronted Cain.
Diffuse anger. Don’t allow the root of bitterness and resentment germinate into anger. Anger will erode your peace and quench the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life. Anger will not produce the righteous life that brings honor to God.
- “‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV)
- “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20 (NIV)
Diffuse anger by confronting the source of your anger. What is producing the poison of anger in your life? What is generating those intense feelings and internal thoughts within you? Move beyond the symptoms and excavate the depth of your soul. Isolate the pulsating source of your anger. Confront your feelings and renew your mind. Release bitterness and resentment through the avenue of forgiveness. Extend forgiveness. Receive forgiveness.
Be compassionate. Be gentle. Be kind. Be understanding. Be responsive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Make necessary adjustments to conform to the likeness of Christ.
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell