Prayer: Father, I can still get angry. Help me with my anger issue. Help me to manage my anger, and sin not. Amen.
Reading: Genesis 4 key: vs. 6-7
6 Then Adonai said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, it will lift. But if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the doorway. Its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
Attention: We have all seen someone rage in anger. Hopefully we have not been the recipient of someone’s wrath.
Today we witness what can happen when someone’s anger is not controlled, but rather it controls them. Cain and Abel were brothers. I have a younger brother. Sibling rivalry is nothing new but this one is reversed. My experience is that it is common for the younger brother to be jealous of the older brother. But in this instance, the older is not pleased with Adonai’s acceptance of his brother’s offering and not his. Rather than being angry with God, he takes revenge on his brother by killing him.
There are many who suffer at the hands of misdirected anger and become a victim. According to a brief search of Bureau of Justice reports on the internet, family violence between siblings ran between 15-18% of juvenile family violence murders.
Even our passage today tells us that Adonai advised Cain, “sin is crouching at the doorway. Its desire is for you, but you must master it.” To master something, is to take control or overcome it. We either master anger or it masters us!
I can recall having an explosive temper as an adolescent. For me a combination of Scripture and sports were helpful. Sports required discipline and practice. Daily practices served as an outlet for pent up emotions and energy. Under a coach’s guidance, attitudes were formed, and skills were mastered. One could not afford to allow emotions in the heat of competition get out of control. He who loses his emotions, loses the battle.
With the help of the Word, I learned from Jacob (James) godly instruction about anger. “Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger—for human anger doesn’t produce the righteousness of God” (1:19-20). What great advice from the scriptures. May we all benefit from the wisdom of God!
Action: I will actively seek with the help of the Holy Spirit and the Word to master my anger!
Yield: I give my right to be angry to God.
Engage: With the Holy Spirit’s help, I will control my anger.
Relationship: My lifestyle is to live life with the help and presence of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Father, Thank You for Your wise instruction. I will listen and obey Your instruction. Amen.
Memory Verse: Jacob (James) 1: 19-20
19 Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger— 20 for human anger doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.
Music Video: Charity Gayle, I Speak Jesus https://youtu.be/KRUEyhhLFo0
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”