Thoughts for another day

March 6, 2007

Today's verse: James 1:20. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

A great difficulty for most of us is in controlling our anger. Anger is the bane of the person striving to become perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect (ref. Mt. 5:20).

Anger, a form of negative energy, makes us blind to the situation and un-merciful. It is a trait, we learn from the time we are children and is the ‘stickiest’ of bad habits. Anger can single-handedly destroy all of God’s Grace in our lives. Not only that, it can also destroy our peace and families. The point therefore is, how do we put this emotion under our control? For that we need to see why we get angry. We usually get angry when we have certain expectations that are not met (so have no expectation of anybody, even if that were your child). Anger also floats in when our command is not obeyed thus pricking our ego (how much will your reputation be damaged if your sub-ordinate does not obey you? Will it sully your name? No way!). There could be other reasons for being angry too. However, it all boils down to one: Our ego.

For a Christian who has died to self and has dedicated himself to God, the ego dies. Of course let me say that it is not an easy thing for us to let go of our ego. It may take years and perhaps a lifetime too. But it needs to happen. I too suffer from the malady of anger, but mercifully God intervenes immediately in the mind, so even if I flare up, God shuts me up. That is because of my proximity to God and my constant effort to be tuned to Him. Which I would like to believe, all of us have in some way or other.

With the intervention of God, anger generally is toned down. God works in strange ways to control our anger and God does it because, He wants to clothe us with the righteousness of His Son. It is that righteousness which will catapult us into the doorway of Heaven and enable us to enjoy eternal bliss. My friend, if you get angry often, pray to God to do something about it, so that eventually when you stand before the throne, you are covered with His righteousness and the roll call of heaven will include your name too.