Mar 17: Weekly Reading- Teaching on Murder and Anger; The Convicted & Insight Post by Kim Feld
Weekly Reading: Matthew 5:21-26
Monday Reflection
Anger Can Lead to Destruction: Jesus teaches that harboring anger is as dangerous as committing murder because it poisons our hearts and leads to destructive outcomes. He emphasizes that unresolved anger can destroy relationships and separates us from God.
Monday Verse
And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry. Ephesians 4:26 (NLT)
Monday Questions
Are there areas of unresolved anger in my life that are impacting my relationships? How can I take steps toward reconciliation?
Monday Insight Post
by Kim Feld
This week’s reading is part of what is known as the Sermon on the Mount. Luke 6 has similar elements that some theologians refer to as the Sermon on the Plain. One of the highlights of Jesus’ teaching is the emphasis on what is going on inside of us. Although murder was forbidden, Jesus took it a step further and addressed anger.
Anger is sometimes referred to as a secondary emotion, meaning that other emotions are often hidden beneath. Hurt, shame, guilt, fear, and even grief can be at the root of anger. Anger can feel powerful, while the underlying emotions may feel vulnerable. A great question to ask ourselves when anger is present is, “Why?” “Why am I so angry about _________?” If we are honest with ourselves, we may find that there’s much more at play.
Monday’s reflection verse is Ephesians 4:26. Let’s take a look at verses 26 and 27:
26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil (NLT).
Let’s look at these verses in the NIV:
26 “In your anger do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
If we look at these verses, we see that we are not being told to never be angry. Instead, we are told not to be controlled by it and not to sin as a result of it. Anger is like a check engine light on the dashboard of our car; it warns us that something is going on that needs to be inspected. Just as ignoring the engine warning can result in your car breaking down, uninspected anger can be disastrous to our relationships and personal health.
I encourage you to spend some time this week looking at the impact of anger in your life. Is your fuse shorter than usual? What’s really going on? Psalm 51:6 tells us God desires truth from the inside out (see the Message). Being truthful with God begins by being truthful with ourselves.
Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
www.newhope.org