I enjoy playing the card game of ‘bridge.’ I don’t like to be singled out and told I played wrong. When this happen it causes me to become angry even though I know that the person criticizing me is trying to make themselves look good by making me look bad.
I can’t solve the problem of becoming angry, without recognizing that anger is one of the seven deadly sins. People seldom use the word sin anymore. When we do something wrong, we say we showed ‘inappropriate behavior,’ or made a ‘tactical ‘error’ or ‘mistake.’
I’m ready to affirm my anger is a sin and my resolution for the new year is to try and control that anger.
I realize that sin is not to be hated primarily for the agony it brings into our lives, though that’s part of it. It is to be hated because it has a numbing effect. It deadens our sense of touch with God and lets us live without an awareness of those things that slowly damages our soul. It produces numbness to our spirit . We need a healthy hatred of sin, and anger is one of those sins.
God’s hatred of sin does not diminish His love for the sinner. The Bible tells us: “His anger is but for a moment,” When we repent, He forgives us and doesn’t bring it up against us again.
Some say that the first word of the gospel is repentance. Martin Luther put is this way: “When our Lord, Jesus Christ said ‘repent,’ He willed that the entire life of a believer be one of repentance.” Confession means calling our sins what God calls them. We needn’t fear revealing them to Him for He already knows them.
The demands of God’s perfect justice were met when our substitute, Jesus Christ, bore our sins on the cross, suffered our penalty, and paid our debts.
I’m thankful for the ‘escape clause’ in Romans 12:18. It does not say that we have to live peaceable with all men under every circumstances, for even the Lord recognizes that with some people this is not possible.
I will continue to play bridge. I can choose to be calm. I can be kind even when someone treats me unkindly , and I can be loving when my patience is tested.
The Power of Words
A careless word may kindle strife.
A cruel word may wreck a life.
A bitter word may hate instill;
A brutal word may smite and kill.
A gracious word may smooth the way;
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress;
A loving word may heal and bless.
--Author Unknown.
3 comments:
Wow, you are really transparent.
I am reminded of one of my favorite verses-Prov 15:1 and try to use it regularly that a 'soft answer turns away wrath'
Grandmother, you are quite a wise woman. Thanks for the encouragement on my blog. I know God is building my character this year and I feel like I have grown so much by not loving my work, if you understand what I am saying. I do really enjoy it out here and am learning a lot! By the way- I am knitting my first scarf and one of my small group leaders is going to teach me to quilt! I do want to be able to make things like you always have. I always looked up to you for the way you used your hands to constantly serve.
Grandmother, I am also using the word "gentle" much more these days. Gentle hands, gentle words, gentle voices...I have to model it to teach it. We can pray for each other. I love you!
Happy happy birthday today!!!
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