Jeremiah 10
Relent of Anger!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, March 27.
How do you respond to people when you are upset? Are you unjust and ungraceful in how you express your feelings? In marital counseling, I’ve heard people say vicious things to their spouse, far exceeding what needed to be said. Why do we character assassinate the people we love when we are upset? When people are hijacked by their anger, they more easily make bad decisions without regard for the long-term consequences of their words or actions. We must relent of our anger, inviting the Holy Spirit to govern our hearts and minds so that we do not sin in it and give the devil an opportunity (Ephesians 4:26-27).
In Jeremiah 10:24, the prophet offered a profound prayer, in solidarity with the nation, petitioning God for their impending judgment, “Correct me, O Lord, but with justice; not with Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.” David had made a similar petition to God in Psalm 6:1-4, “O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your wrath. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am pining away; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed. And my soul is greatly dismayed; but You, O Lord – how long? Return, O Lord, rescue my soul; save me because of Your lovingkindness.”
Loving parents discipline their children in love, refraining from doing it while they are still angry. Anger perverts justice and distorts love! Righteous justice is sober-minded, unintoxicated by anger, seeking the good for all while accurately disciplining the one in need of correction. As Hebrews 12:11 promises, “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” It was for this result Jeremiah petitioned God.
Seize the moment and relent of your anger before you discipline someone you love.
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.