The truth is there are many opportunities for us to fly off the handle in our everyday life. And especially as Christian there will be many chances to “let someone have it”. Why do you think this is? Because the devil is out to prove that Christians aren’t worth the salvation they are claiming on a regular basis. He wants to show the world that they can’t rely on Christians to behave according to what the Bible says. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” (James 1:19) When we express anger at any situation that arises we show people that the devil still exists in our lives and when people can see the devil they can’t see God in you.
This starts with me. As believers let’s start practicing patience, long-suffering, and most of all, love to our brothers and sisters. That includes those we know or don’t know, saved or not, Christian or not. God said out of all the commandments He gave us, the most important is love. So love your brother and sister. Be slow to anger. Pray to God to heal your internal anger if you have something that happened in your past that causes your anger to rise. When we respond with love we may not always get love in return but we have sown a seed in the other person that God can begin to fertilize and water. We may not see the eventual transformation in the person because we may never run into them again. But I guarantee you they will always remember you – and the day they encountered the love of God.
"If I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God's love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God's love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody). Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God's love in me), I gain nothing. Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]."
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 AMP
God bless you,
Robert T Sells
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About the author: Robert T. Sells (aka The Anointed Poet) is the co-owner, with his wife Marlas, of Words of Inspiration Ministries in Merrillville, Indiana. He is known for his gift of prose and has been spreading the message of the Gospel through poetry and song around the country. Sells is also the author of several books in the Words of Inspiration poetry series and a Christian spoken word CD. For more information about his ministry or to purchase products and/or services, visit his website at http://www.robertsellsonline.com/.
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