Word For You is no longer available in print or digital format although the archive of previous readings will remain available on this page for some time yet. If you'd like to continue with Word For You, you can listen to each day's devotional on the UCB Player app.
Living in harmony (3)
It’s never okay to explode and lose our temper with anyone God has asked us to care for, whether that’s a friend who needs encouragement, someone we supervise at work, someone we mentor, a partner, or a child. The Bible says, ’Don’t get so angry that you sin. Don’t go to bed angry and don’t give the devil a chance’ (Ephesians 4:26-27 CEV). Satan would like nothing better than to gain entry into our lives, and every time we fly into a rage, we lose ground to him. That’s why the Scriptures say, ‘It’s smart to be patient, but it’s stupid to lose your temper.’ The key to managing anger lies in finding healthy ways to express it so that it doesn’t end up hurting more than helping. It’s important to share our feelings, but we must always do it in the right way. Ultimately it’s not about who’s right and who’s wrong, or who can shout the loudest. It’s about finding the solution that’s best for everyone. Nobody can be everything we want them to be and live up to our expectations all the time. It’s impossible to have a truly loving and caring relationship with anyone without learning to accept human weakness. Instead of dwelling on someone else’s mistakes, shortcomings, or weaknesses, we should focus on working together to find a solution, and encouraging the other person more than criticising them. In 1 Corinthians 13, we read that ‘love is patient, love is kind’ (v.4 NIV). Let’s try to keep that in mind through all our interactions with others, and be beacons of God’s love for them.
What Now?
Think about the last time you lost your temper with someone. If you haven’t already, apologise to them. Next time you’re facing a tense situation, try to remember the words of 1 Corinthians 13:4.
The UCB Word For You
Read More