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“Anger: Sometimes You Are Hot” By Kirk Hunt
When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.
John 2:15 NKJV
This was no off-the-cuff reaction. Jesus calmly thought out His response and actions. He prepared. Then He executed. Jesus used His anger for a noble purpose. Only the thieving merchants and corrupt Priests complained.
The merchants were violating the spirit and letter of the Mosaic Law. Paying kickbacks to the High Priest was corruption, plain and simple. Jesus refused to tolerate their open, cynical sin and thievery a moment longer.
There is a big difference between anger and rage. Anger can be controlled, channeled and harnessed for positive use. Anger fuels the determined, orderly, constructive actions of saints. Rage drives the impulsive, chaotic, destructiveness of a mob.
It is too easy, and destructive, to be full of rage. Not that it stops folks. Rage blinds you to the real needs in the situation. Rage blocks helpful, thoughtful solutions.
Jesus planned it out. Jesus did it openly. I imagine He stood around and waited for the Temple police (John 18:3) to conduct their investigation.
What are you angry about? There is lots of blatant sin and cynical injustice in the world to be angry about. Are you prepared to use that anger to fuel a thoughtful, constructive response? It is easy to be a mob. It is a little harder to be the solution.
Think: Anger is fuel for doing the right thing, the right way.
Pray: “Lord, help me use anger to honor and serve You and Your people.”
Copyright © March 2014, Kirk Hunt
This devotional is a ministry of https://devotionals.cadremenpress.com.