"Be ye angry, and sin not:
..." any honest assessment of
justice, in regard to self, must come away agreeing that any lot
or treatment up to and including Hell, is well within the
bounds of what we deserve. This is precisely why our
SAVIOR took our sin like a LAMB to the slaughter (cf. John 1:29). The Cross was not
wrath gone amuck, but simply the gory demonstration of sin's
just due. Indiscrete anger is the big brother of pride,
and always ugly, because it defends sin. Biblically,
indignant anger is sanctioned, so far as it is directed toward
the defense of the Gospel and GOD'S glory (cf. John 2:13-17). Regarding others
however,
who have caused offense toward us, whether real or perceived, we are never more
noble than when we defer anger; and never more like the LORD
than when we pass over a transgression in forgiveness.
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as GOD for CHRIST'S sake hath forgiven you."
Conversely, never are we more
like Lucifer, than when we take matters into our own hands.
"And we know that all
things work together for good to them that love GOD, to them who
are the called according to HIS purpose." Joseph comes to my mind, as the Bible's
consummate teacher emeritus in this, turning evil to good,
regarding his brother's sins:
"And Joseph said unto
them, Fear not: for am I in the place of GOD? But as for
you, ye thought evil against me; but GOD meant it unto good, to
bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little
ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."
Experience and knowledge are wonderful
tools, but if filed improperly, they can boom-a-rang in a most
indiscriminate way. When we catalogue in emotion or pride,
the cabinet is found in anger's closet; where it is dim, dank,
disorganized; and the atmosphere breeds upon itself like mold.
"Neither give
place to the devil."
Beware, lest the Devil become your file clerk!
"... let not the sun go
down upon your wrath"