Wednesday, March 23, 2022
A Powerful Witness to a Lost World
“Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back” (Proverbs 29:11 NLT).
The coronavirus combined with the economy and the politics of the day has created almost a perfect storm of anger for many people.
I have no doubt that social media feeds this frenzy. People spend too much time looking at their phones and tablets and following their favorite websites, which further inflames them.
We know that people are uptight. We know that people lose their tempers. But if you’re a Christian, then you should be different. Christians should not get caught up in the anger that so many people are expressing today.
In fact, the Bible says that the person who loses his temper is a fool (see Proverbs 29:11). It also tells us that as followers of Christ, we are to love others and make every effort to be at peace with them.
Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35 NKJV).
As believers, we need to show love and forgiveness. And if we don’t, we will grieve the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God. Therefore, it’s possible for us to lie to the Holy Spirit, resist the Holy Spirit, insult the Holy Spirit, and yes, even grieve the Holy Spirit.
The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus, “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. . . . Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior” (Ephesians 4:30-31 NLT).
When Christians love one another, it’s a powerful witness to a lost world. On the other hand, when Christians fight with one another, it’s a poor witness to a lost world.
If you’re truly a godly person, then you will be humble and loving—not someone who’s filled with anger and rage.
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