Jesus, I Want to Love You Part 2Sýnishorn

Read Ephesians 4:26-27, 2 Samuel 13:1-36, and Ephesians 4:20-32.

RIGHTEOUS ANGER

Be angry, but . . .

When you are angry with your children (or spouse or others), describe what you do when you are responding in a godly manner. How do you handle the situation?

What do you do on a “bad” day, when you give in to your anger?

Has anyone ever taken their anger out on you? What did it feel like? What came of it? What if they had handled it differently? How could they have handled it in a constructive way?

The story about David we are going to read today is a sad but very important one. We can be thankful for all the examples the Lord has given to us in His Word so that we won’t repeat the same mistakes. The Word says be angry, yet do not sin. The emotion of anger can serve as a helpful barometer if used correctly. And we have a responsibility to be angry at sin but to deal with it in a righteous manner. We are not to tolerate or overlook sin in our home as David did. As parents we must be attentive to what is going on in the hearts of our children.

What instruction does the Lord give that relates to anger? Pray through these instructions.

Imagine yourself in a specific and very trying and tempting situation. Keeping in mind the passage above, what would it look like to put to death the deeds of the flesh and putting off the old girl in this situation? What would it look like to put on the new self, in other words walking forward by faith in the Spirit that now dwells in you?

This week, ask the Lord for His grace to hear the truth, receive it, not run from it, and believe that Jesus is able to help you deal with anger in a righteous manner.