He is Coming

Have you noticed how, when you set a date, the day always arrives promptly and surely. No matter how far away it is, one day, that day you set will be here and it will not miss.

Jesus is coming back again and on that day we will all behold him, surely and certainly. This painting gave me the shivers of deja vu because it's just like a vision of what will be.

Mark 13:26-27 At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

We need to prepare for his coming because He is Coming!

When the Music Fades

I love this song by Matt Redman and also sang by Michael W. Smith. I believe God is pleased when we go beyond the theatrics of a song and actually touch His heart

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I bring You more than a song
For a song in itself is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You It's all about You,
JesusI'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

Called to be like Him

It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. (Acts 11:26) Why? They were so much like Christ that it was unbelievable. In character, in words and in power, they lived just like Jesus. They did not call themselves Christians, the non-believers did!

How different this is from our generation. Today, we call ourselves Christians but the unbelievers do not believe. They hardly see the character of Jesus in us; they hardly see the power, they hardly see any difference.

I am not saying that we are not different: we are! But they do not see it and if they don’t, then how will they come to embrace the salvation of God. It is so sad, that some of us are comfortable with being worldly. Today, unfortunately, some Christians give and take bribes; steal from their employers; flout the laws of the land; get angry without restraint; fornicate; look down with pride on those that God has by His grace lifted them above; all without a second thought.

The world looks and sneers. How sad! Some Christians even join the world to make fun of others!

Many times I wonder how God feels. No one is perfect, but He has given us the power to live holy lives. Most often the decision on how we live day by day is ours.

Let us remember that Jesus called us the light of the world. If we don’t shine, the world cannot see Him. God forbid that our character or way of life should be a stumbling block to those who would otherwise have found Christ. Amen!

But Jesus did get angry...

True.

I also had to reconcile this in my mind as i studied the times that Jesus exhibited anger and this is what i discovered.

Jesus' anger was never to defend self. He was insulted, doubted, persecuted, spit upon, crucified but he was never angry for these personal reasons.

But He really got upset when anyone offended God. Like the traders who decided to set up shop in God's holy temple, or the pharisees who gave the people impossible laws to follow, or when the mother of James and John lobbied for a heavenly seat for their son. He spoke harshly to the pharisees when they blasphemed against the Holy Spirit.

Most of the reasons we get angry are selfish. Sometimes it can't be avoided but then it must be put aside immediately and it must be resolved before the sun goes down.

It will do us good to follow Jesus' example.

Ousting Anger

I have often heard an angry man (or woman) justify their anger by quoting the scripture in Ephesians 4:26 that says, “Be angry, but sin not…. .

But did God really give us this scripture to promote regular bouts of anger. I think not. Anger is an emotion by which we show how much we are displeased with a person or a situation. It easily gives birth to raised voices in heated rebukes and abuse; physical attack; hate, malice, and even murder. With this kind of offspring I believe that God would want us to do away with anger completely. Hear His word….

Eph 4:31 –Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice

- Clearly, God does not support anger

Col 3:8 – But now, you yourself are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice…

- This is a commandment

James 1: 20 – For the wrath of man does not promote God’s Righteousness

It never does

Prov 29: 22 – An angry man stirs up strife and a furious man abounds in transgression.

Anger translates to sin. Simple!

And lastly the full rendition of our text…Eph 4:26 Be angry and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger.

How easy is it to be angry and not sin?

How easy is it to put away your anger before the sun goes down? Especially if you become angry by say 5p.m. in the evening.

So let’s put away anger completely especially if you want to stay away from sin and if you want to promote God’s righteousness alone.