Scripture & Thought
Proverbs 29:11 – “Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.”
Sometimes we feel justified in unloading both barrels and giving someone a piece of our mind, because we think that we’re in the right on the subject.
So let’s just say, for the sake of a point, that we are right. Even if that’s the case, we don’t have to scream at people. We don’t have to turn it into a major conflict. We may rationalize it by saying we’re more spiritual than the other people, so we need to set them right.
But if you’re really a spiritual person, if you’re really a godly person, then you’ll be a humble person. You’ll also be a loving person—not someone who’s filled with anger and rage.
I have no doubt that social media feeds this. I think we spend way too much time looking at our phones and tablets and following our favorite websites, which inflames us.
Yet as believers, we should show love and forgiveness. And if we don’t, we’ll grieve the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God. Therefore, it’s not only possible to grieve the Holy Spirit, but it’s also possible to lie to the Holy Spirit, resist the Holy Spirit, and insult the Holy Spirit.
The apostle Paul wrote, “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).
The Bible says that a person who loses his temper is a fool (see Proverbs 29:11). And Jesus said, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35 NLT).
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to love others and be at peace. When Christians love one another, it’s a powerful witness to a lost world.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we really do want to be more like you. We need your help in keeping the attitude that would be pleasing to you, even when other provoke negative feelings from us, and cause us to wonder where we truly stand. Help us to always keep an attitude of love, grace, and mercy towards those we disagree with, and to those who treat us differently than we’d like. We really do want to show the attitude of Christ to everyone we come into contact with. Help us to be the best representatives of God’s kingdom as we can possibly be. In your name we ask. Amen.