Ephesians 4:26-27 Amplified Bible
26 Be angry [at sin—at immorality, at injustice, at ungodly behavior], yet do not sin; do not let your anger [cause you shame, nor allow it to] last until the sun goes down. 27 And do not give the devil an opportunity [to lead you into sin by holding a grudge, or nurturing anger, or harboring resentment, or cultivating bitterness].
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Offering forgiveness to others is one of the most difficult, important aspects of the Christian life. The Word of God clearly covenants with us to forgive others.
God longs to fashion us into his likeness that we might model the love we’ve been shown to a world with no concept of mercy.
He longs for us to offer each other continuous grace, a lifestyle of forgiveness to the undeserving as we, like Christ did for us at Calvary, have been offered grace upon grace and forgiveness upon forgiveness when we too were undeserving.
Today and for as many tomorrows as God gifts to Hus children, May we each be filled with courage and boldness to offer forgiveness to those in desperate need of grace. And may the lasting experience of our God’s true forgiveness and love shine bright through as we enter into our calling as a minister of reconciliation.
About that “Lifestyle of Continual Forgiveness”
Ephesians 4:26-27 Easy-to-Read Version
26 “When you are angry, don’t let that anger make you sin,”[a] and don’t stay angry all day. 27 Don’t give the devil a way to defeat you.
Ephesians 4:26-27 offered the Ephesian followers revelation on an important and often unknown, seldom preached, seldom emphasized spiritual principle.
Scripture says, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”
When we do allow anger to fester within us for hours, days, weeks, months, and sometimes years, we allow the enemy to gain a foothold in our lives that robs us of the abundant life provided in Christ.
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul is clearly expressing to them that anger in itself is not a sin; it’s when we allow anger to remain anchored into our souls instead of choosing grace and forgiveness, that we violate God’s command.
When people wrong us the natural response is to be angry, and that is all right!
Jesus himself was often angry.
Matthew 21:12 tells us, “And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.”
In the Gospel Narrative of John, Jesus too the time to create a whip and used it.
John 2:13-21 Amplified Bible
First Passover—Cleansing the Temple
13 Now the Passover of the Jews was approaching, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And in the temple [enclosure] He found the [a]people who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting at their tables. 15 He made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 16 then to those who sold the doves He said, “Take these things away! Stop making My Father’s house a place of commerce!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written [in the Scriptures], “Zeal (love, concern) for Your house [and its honor] will consume Me.” 18 Then the Jews retorted, “What sign (attesting miracle) can You show us as [proof of] your authority for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 Then the Jews replied, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and You will raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple which was His body.
Jesus was consistently angry with those who claimed to know God, worship and pray to God and simultaneously took the greatest advantages of fleecing others.
Nothing made him more angry than pharisaical people.
But Jesus also modeled forgiveness of the highest form. Rather than being filled with anger and allowing it to fester inside of him, he offered his life out of his love for the very people who shouted, “Crucify him!” and “Free Barabbas!”
The truth is that our anger is often a symptom of our brokenness rather than the result of the wrongs of others.
Often, anger is rooted in our own insecurities and pride rather than a righteous anger for justice.
It’s for this reason the Bible teaches us all over and over again to be slow to anger.
James 1:19-20 says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
Proverbs 19:11 says, “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
And Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”
Psalm 86:15 Amplified Bible
15
But You, O Lord, are a God [who protects and is] merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.
Psalm 103:8 Amplified Bible
8
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in compassion and lovingkindness.
Psalm 145:8 Amplified Bible
8
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
Proverbs 14:29 Amplified Bible
29
He who is slow to anger has great understanding [and profits from his self-control],
But he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness [for all to see].
The Lord desires to make us a people filled with his mercy, grace, charity and compassion and forgiveness over our own anger and prideful sense of justice.
God, who was deserving of everything, gave it all up to show us grace. Jesus is the rightful King of kings and Lord of lords. But rather than claiming what was rightfully his own, he humbled himself before a Roman prefect and a rebellious people and gave up his own life. And now he asks you, me, we, to do the same.
Jesus is asking you to lay down your rights and pride to pursue a higher calling of unconditional love. He’s asking you to show grace where none is deserved.
He’s asking you to offer mercy where there should rightfully be none. And he’s asking us to forgive others so heaven might come to earth through our actions.
Commit your lives to living a lifestyle of continual forgiveness today, and allow God to work through you to bring His message of salvation, forgiveness and of reconciliation and restored relationship to a world in desperate need of a Savior.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Guided Prayer:
1. Meditate on God’s command to live a lifestyle of continual forgiveness.
Allow his word to fill you with a desire to be slow to anger and quick to forgive and offer grace.
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27
“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” Proverbs 16:32
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
2. Who do you need to offer forgiveness to today?
What anger have you allowed to fester in your heart?
3. Forgive that person or those people in your heart right now. Offer grace to them in your heart that you might receive healing in the place of bitterness.
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20
“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25
1 Peter 2:23 “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”
May we become like Jesus and offer grace and forgiveness to others who are undeserving.
May we be reflections of his love by being slow to anger, quick to offer mercy.
May his light shine through us today into a world wrought with deep darkness.
Psalm 86 Amplified Bible
A Psalm of Supplication and Trust.
A Prayer of David.
86 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
For I am distressed and needy [I long for Your help].
2
Protect my life (soul), for I am godly and faithful;
O You my God, save Your servant, who trusts in You [believing in You and relying on You, confidently committing everything to You].
3
Be gracious and merciful to me, O Lord,
For to You I cry out all the day long.
4
Make Your servant rejoice,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul [all that I am—in prayer].
5
For You, O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our sins, sending them away, completely letting them go forever and ever];
And abundant in lovingkindness and overflowing in mercy to all those who call upon You.
6
Hear, O Lord, my prayer;
And listen attentively to the voice of my supplications (specific requests)!
7
In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For You will answer me.
8
There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord,
Nor are there any works [of wonder and majesty] like Yours.
9
All nations whom You have made shall come and kneel down in worship before You, O Lord,
And they shall glorify Your name.
10
For You are great and do wondrous works!
You alone are God.
11
Teach me Your way, O Lord,
I will walk and live in Your truth;
Direct my heart to fear Your name [with awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder].
12
I will give thanks and praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
And will glorify Your name forevermore.
13
For great is Your lovingkindness and graciousness toward me;
And You have rescued my life from the depths of Sheol [from death].
14
O God, arrogant and insolent men have risen up against me;
A band of violent men have sought my life,
And they have not set You before them.
15
But You, O Lord, are a God [who protects and is] merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.
16
Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
Grant Your strength [Your might and the power to resist temptation] to Your servant,
And save the son of Your handmaid.
17
Show me a sign of [Your] goodwill,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
Because You, O Lord, helped and comforted me.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 