Righteousness and Anger

Many things happen to us to make us angry. We want life to be fair but it often isn't because we live in a world populated by humans. Each of us responds to the world logic and patterns in our own way. We often experience conflict because of a multitude of factors present around us.

When logic comes from God's word (logos), it brings peace and a sense of well-being, not agitation. A very big point to understand is that God's wrath is passionate, not hateful. God is a God of love. He designed the human mind to think and have certain emotions to help protect us from the evil that exists in the world. He obviously thinks that anger to certain things is good, and he teaches us how to deal with it.

Ephesians 4:26-27
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.

We are surrounded daily by actions and influences that seem not fair and arouse a sense of justice in our hearts. At the end of the day (I mean this literally not figuratively like it is so often used) we have the opportunity to lay our head on our pillow and give it all to God. It is at those moments we can  listen and genuinely forgive. We can really allow God to do his love thing to handle what is on our hearts. Forgiveness does not mean giving in to injustice.  It means asking God to resolve any problem the way it needs to be resolved. Our 'pillow talk' can  assure us a good night's rest only to wake up the next day expecting good things ahead. This is to be viewed as a dynamic of life not a rigid rule . It is from a very deep love that God guides us in this direction. God's kingdom abides in this realm.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20

Righteousness is not indignant. It is a description of our right to God's love and solutions. Righteousness is not about competition, jealousy or argument of who's right and wrong. I often make mistakes, but I have realized that we can be still righteous even when we make mistakes and that is what elevates us to God's kingdom here on earth (remember the prayer, 'thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven'?) The Pharisees (the 'separated ones') and scribes tried to teach people the law.  With the advent of Jesus Christ we could become righteous by giving us access to God through grace not law.

Most people who stay angry have conflict in their own hearts and allow the adversary to run in through and ransack their brains. Believe me when I say I know about that. God can help us get out of that rut when we understand what true righteousness involves.  And I know about that too. At night when I close my eyes, I love laying what is on my mind all out before God. When I wake up the first thought I have is usually one of great expectation for the day.