Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.
How is it that we will learn an angry man’s ways if we hang out with the angry? It seems that we need some kind of immunisation shot against anger in our world today. Things and events easily anger us. Everything from road-rage to all the other rages going on is sapping our kindness and mercy, plus confusing our understanding of righteous anger.
We tend to forget that we live in a fallen world, and even though we are not part of it we do live in it. Gen. 4:6 So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If thou does well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou does not well, sin lies at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. We have forgotten that we need a Savior to give us life and get us victoriously through this present life in order to live with Christ for eternity.
We tend to forget that we live in a fallen world, and even though we are not part of it we do live in it. Gen. 4:6 So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If thou does well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou does not well, sin lies at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. We have forgotten that we need a Savior to give us life and get us victoriously through this present life in order to live with Christ for eternity.
Heb. 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Is there a sin that we keep falling for or into every time it comes along? Is there a sin in our lives which doth so easily besets us? We might say, “why, Lord, do I fall here every time, and why is this sin so hard for me to overcome?”
Why do some Christians crave drugs, alcohol, gambling, stealing, lying and risky behavior, while others hang on to an unforgiving heart, compulsive disorders, and a dozen other shortcomings? Yet others seem to have no problem with anything listed here? Why am I so weak in one or more of these areas?
Why do some Christians crave drugs, alcohol, gambling, stealing, lying and risky behavior, while others hang on to an unforgiving heart, compulsive disorders, and a dozen other shortcomings? Yet others seem to have no problem with anything listed here? Why am I so weak in one or more of these areas?
In the book of John, we read of the woman of Samaria. John 4:7a There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. This woman might have been questioning the same things we have been asking ourselves. Why can’t I keep a real relationship with anyone? Why do I have so many insecurities with commitment? Why do I keep falling for the same old lines of promised love? Why do I keep leading all these sappy men on? My friends don’t seem to have these problems.
I do not know what was on her mind that day, but her encounter with Jesus had a fulfilling result from these words that Christ is offering us today. John 4:14 But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. If we think about it, all the desires that are contrary to what God wants for our lives is a thirst that cannot be quenched with anything offered from the world system.
Addictions or obsessions are thirsts within our lives that cause us to go looking for answers and fulfillment in all the wrong places. This cycle of behaviour only deepens the problem and we feel like we are dying of thirst. Meanwhile, the very source of life, Jesus, our Lord, is offering us a full cup of life-giving fulfillment. Psalm 23:5 Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
I do not know what was on her mind that day, but her encounter with Jesus had a fulfilling result from these words that Christ is offering us today. John 4:14 But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. If we think about it, all the desires that are contrary to what God wants for our lives is a thirst that cannot be quenched with anything offered from the world system.
Addictions or obsessions are thirsts within our lives that cause us to go looking for answers and fulfillment in all the wrong places. This cycle of behaviour only deepens the problem and we feel like we are dying of thirst. Meanwhile, the very source of life, Jesus, our Lord, is offering us a full cup of life-giving fulfillment. Psalm 23:5 Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
We read in the Psalms that King David is going through a similar situation. Psalm 73:14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. David is convinced that the suffering of the righteous and the success of sinners have become a reality in his life. However, he comes to a place in his heart where he finds the truth of the matter. Psalm 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. It is only in the presence of our God that the thirst for all these sins that so easily besets us can be destroyed, washed away, overcome, and forgiven.
Prov. 2:24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. So, am I just a product of my environment or do I have choices? Where I go to fulfill my thirst is my choice. We do not have to learn an angry man’s way and allow it to become a snare to our soul.
We do have a way out of the sin which so easily beset us and, thank God, for the love and grace He gives us every day to help us overcome. The Lord admonishes us to drink from His waters of life and our soul will live free. Eccl.12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. In Jesus name, Father, help us always to choose you. Amen.
We do have a way out of the sin which so easily beset us and, thank God, for the love and grace He gives us every day to help us overcome. The Lord admonishes us to drink from His waters of life and our soul will live free. Eccl.12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. In Jesus name, Father, help us always to choose you. Amen.
Amen. I needed to hear this today.