Ephesians 4:26-27 – “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.”  NKJV

Years ago, I had a church member tell me, as I became visibly angry over something, “Anger is sin!”  This individual believed that even the slightest agitation was a sign of a sinful heart and because I had become agitated they were convinced that there was sin in my heart and because of that, I should immediately resign from the church.  They never got over my momentary lapse and could not modify their belief to accept the above passage.  It was almost don’t confuse me with the facts my mind is made up.

Anger is destructive and if one has no control over their emotions they damage their own souls.  Here the apostle Paul declares, “Be angry and do not sin…”  He did not say if you become angry you have sinned.  Admittedly, you may have but every demonstration or experience of anger is not a sin.  The Bible warns usto guard against wrath, rage, and being quick-tempered.  It also warns against allowing to be unbridled and describes anger that is harbored in the heart is a condition of a fool. 

We are told to guard our mouths and that harsh words stir up strife.  James declared that a person that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and if we have control over our anger we are mightier than one who conquers a city.  Jesus warned that in our anger we are standing on the precipice of judgment.  Ephesians 4:27declares that we are to “give no opportunity to the devil.”  Here Paul instructs that if we become angry we are to resolve it quickly, “do not let the sun go down on your wrath”.  He could have stopped there but he did not and continued, “…nor give place to the devil.”

ANGER opens a door we do not want to open.  It allows the enemy of our soul to plant seeds of bitterness, vengeance, malice, jealousy, and even hatred.  Proverbs 14:29 gives a powerful revelation that a person who is slow to anger has great understanding, but if we are quick-tempered we exalt folly.  In Proverbs 25:28 we read, “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.”  Anger leaves us defenseless and gives the devil a clear pathway to our minds and our hearts.  If we are to resist the devil we must resist anger as well. 

If I see a child being abused physically or verbally I become angry.  If I see blatant wrong being committed I become angry.  If I see the American flag burned I become angry.  If I see or hear biblical values trampled by politicians and so-called Christian leaders I become angry.  My anger is sometimes directed at the ones committing the act but always at the devil for inspiring the act. 

However, I also seek to be forgiving and want to guard my heart against hate and bitterness.  Therefore, I strive to be like Stephen as he was being stoned to death, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”  I also strive to be like my Lord Jesus as He hung on the Cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  I would be less than honest if I said I am always successful and become angry without sin.  Sometimes I have to not only repent of the anger but sinful anger.

It should be a Christian objective to never open a door to the devil needlessly and that is so easily done via the emotion of anger.  I pray for you that the LORD help you keep your emotions in check and never give place to anger nor allow it to remain, producing the root of sin and opening a door to the enemy of our souls.

God bless you as you go through this beautiful day!