Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”
There seems to be so much hate and anger displayed all around us these days. The media, political scenarios, and conflict, perhaps even within families and our jobs, that is displeasing and can insight the emotional arousal of anger. I have seen a lot of anger around me this week, haven’t you? In Paul’s time, back in Ephesus, the body of believers had the same circumstances. Some things never change because sin is sin.
It is not wrong to feel angry over injustices. Not all anger is a sin. But when we are consumed by it, the problem takes root, and it will enter into our brain and land inside what is called the Lymbic System of our mind. The Lymbic System is where we feel things. That is when we need to take a cleansing breath, pause, maybe walk around the room, and allow that fear or anger emotion to move to the front of the brain, where rationality resides to respond logically. Notice there seems to be a time limit element that Paul is stating in Ephe. 4:26, about “do not let the sun go down on your anger,” in not letting anger sprout into sin. Our beliefs and fears, whether reasonable or not, are expressed by our feelings.
No one can afford to have a thought that God does not have regarding our opinions and responses in our workplace, family interactions, and public places. I need to ask myself, “What is God’s perspective on this?” When I try to fight my own battle, I need to remember and acknowledge that I have the greatest warrior guiding me, just as Moses had God leading him in battles (Exodus 15:2-7). What combat missions have you had to experience this week and how did you react to the people involved? Did you feel you needed some comforting by someone?
When Jesus overturned tables in the temple, He was not angry because His feelings were hurt, or because He felt ignored. He set the example. “He was angry because people were being hindered from worshipping the Father freely.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary New Testament. This was a judgment against sin, by Jesus cleansing the temple, as was God’s judgment in Num. 25:4 and Jer. 4:8; 12:13, where the phrase, “the anger of the LORD” was stated regarding God’s anger against people continuing in their sin, so the punishment was great destruction of their land.
“The devil’s work is to accuse and divide the family of God, and to sow discord among them. When we harbor anger in our heart, we do the devil’s work for him.” David Guzak. Are you aware that Satan can work while you sleep? If you argue about some disagreement before going to bed and don’t get it resolved before laying your head on that pillow, when you wake up in the morning, bitterness and resentment have brewed and often turn into anger, just as Paul warned not do in Ephe. 4:26. I confess I have been there – done that and don’t recommend it.
James 4:7-8 admonishes us to, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” The enemy has a good chance for advancement and progress in the temptation of anger in his attack. We need to be quick to say, “I’m sorry” to the person we have wounded. Have righteous indignation where required, but pray for God’s values in the outcome of the resolution and apply them. Flee to Jesus!
The MSG version states Ephe. 4:26-27 this way: “Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry – but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the devil that kind of foothold in your life.”
Listen to – Face To Face by Natalie Grant. 7/11/20