A Control Issue!

The story has been told of two neighbors who had a falling-out over a disputed boundary line between their properties. Due to the intensity of their FESTERING ANGER, each built his own fence leaving a four foot span between them. Not only was this an added expense for each in having to build his own fence, but it also rendered that four foot wide strip of land useless to either of them. It was as if neither owned it. That four foot wide strip of land became known as "The Devil's Lane." Such a designation seems to have indicated who had taken control.

In Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus, he exhorted. . .
"(26) Be ANGRY and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your ANGER, (27) and GIVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO THE DEVIL." ( Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV)

ANGER allowed to fester does just that; gives "opportunity to the devil." Situations can rightly cause us to become ANGRY. However, what we do with that ANGER or how we respond in action is important to consider. Do we allow it to control us or do we control it?

Remember the urging of God when Cain was ANGRY with his brother.
"(6) The LORD said to Cain, 'WHY ARE YOU ANGRY, and why has your face fallen? (7) If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, SIN IS CROUCHING AT THE DOOR. ITS DESIRE IS FOR YOU, BUT YOU MUST RULE OVER IT.'" ( Genesis 4:6-7 ESV)

Instead of being ANGRY with his brother, Cain should have been upset with himself. He couldn't change what he had already done, but he could have resolved to do better. However, even with the warning from God, Cain allowed the ANGER to rule over him, rather than he ruling over it, and he killed his brother. ( Genesis 4:8)

That is why ANGER needs to be gotten over. Sometimes we must go and do what we can to work things out. Other times we may need to simply let things go and resolve the ANGER within ourselves. Even when we have been wronged, ANGER retained does us more harm than good. May we determine to not give the devil any opportunity for creating a "Devil's Lane" between us and others. Let us surrender nothing to him, allowing him to have no control over any territory associated with our life.

Have a great day SURRENDERED TO THE SPIRIT OF GOD!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Anger