PASSING ON THE BATON, NO. 12 - GIVE LOVING AND APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINE--AND WATCH ANGER

Men, keep your anger under control. Do not allow it to overcome your love for the person that is making you angry. Anger is not an evil thing if kept under control, but quick anger must not reign in your life. Do not allow it to destroy the Christ-likeness in you in any way.

Jesus Himself became angry when He found the people selling merchandise and creating a market place in the temple. It was a grievous offence against the holy purpose of the temple, which as Jesus explained, was primarily for worship and prayer (Matthew 21:12, 13). Righteous indignation is a powerful motivation to get things done, but anger did not rule Jesus. Immediately the temple was cleansed His love flowed to heal the blind and the lame and the children filled the temple praising God (Matthew 21:14-16). This is a great lesson for us. His love and zeal for God's house never stopped flowing even when He got angry.

Men, when anger gets out of control anything can happen. It is often far worse than what caused the anger in the first place. Self control is one of the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22, 23.

Anger is actually a negative mood and no Christian has the right to control people by his or her negative moods. Do not make excuses for using the "silent treatment" or the "loud treatment" in order to control your family or friends.

Do not try to control your family or anyone with impolite interjections that are rude and embarrassing to your family and friends. Instead, pray and ask God to help you keep cool, calm, and collected. Ask God to give you wisdom.

"The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace" (James 3:17, 18).

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell