Our sermon this week that was about the vice or sin of anger. I was reminded that anger should be directed at the situation and that I should direct that anger at doing something about it. This is a stark contrast to where anger is generally directed in a lot of situations. There is a tendency to direct our anger at a person and lash out at them.

I have a good amount of anger when things do not work out and thereby creating more work for everyone involved. When something goes wrong or does not play out the way it should have or in a way that can be overcome quickly, there is a feeling that someone should have thought about that and taken care of it. That someone is usually deemed the one that caused the situation as they should have thought about it and had a plan beforehand. This is exactly the wrong approach with regard to directing anger.

Instead of directing anger at the person that should have or not thought of how to avoid a situation before the situation arose, there should be a direction of that anger at how to resolve the situation and overcome. This will be the more productive approach.

This morning as I study I am taken to the book of Genesis and the story of Cain and Abel. This part of the story is of the offering given by each the jealousy and pride in that situation.

“³In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, ⁴and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, ⁵but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.” — Genesis 4:3-5 (ESV)

Cain ends up taking his anger at the situation out on his brother Abel by killing him. Whereas for the moment, Cain may have felt some relief in that he would no longer be in the shadow of Abel, this did not solve the situation of Cain’s offering not being regarded by God. In fact, now God was angry at action taken by Cain and laid out punishment for those actions.

Notice that God was angry, not at Cain, but the situation and Cain was punished for the action, not for being Cain. Too often I believe and see with my own eyes that there is anger and punishment for the person for being the person and there is little looking at the situation and actions.

I have to remember that anger is okay to have and that anger can be used to change things, but only when directed at the actions and situation and not when directed at the person or individual. When directed at the situation, there is a chance to change things and adjust for the now and the future. We have the chance to make the adjustments and repair the situation we are currently in and learn from it to avoid the situation if and when it comes up another time.

Being angry is not a sin, nor should it be frowned upon. As long as that anger is directed correctly, it can be useful in overcoming situations. I have to remember to direct my anger at the situation and not at any person. When I do, I am able to refocus and take action to overcome and learn and impact in a positive way.

What situations do you find yourself angry? Where are you directing your anger? What if you focused you anger on the situation and not the people involved and allowed for the impact on that situation today as well as future instances?

Falsehood and destruction is everywhere around me and I have to be careful and keep a watchful eye out for the signs and then when discovered, do something to avoid destruction with them.

“¹But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” — 2 Peter 2:1 (ESV)

I am bombarded daily with falsehood. Those who are in authority as well as those who wish to be in authority. As see in the verse above, they are “secretly” bringing destruction. We do not even notice a lot of the time as the subtleties are so small. But, when we are aware of that which is going on around us and clued into the way of Christ and working to bring glory to Him, we will be able to notice all that is there.

“²And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” “¹⁴They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!” — 2 Peter 2:1-3 &14 (ESV)

Notice the approach of their falsehood. They “exploit” and “entice”. Look to see who they are targeting, the “unsteady”, and they are trained in the acts.

I have to be the “steady”. I have to be grounded in God and His word to avoid the trappings of the false. I should be knowing of God and His word. I am to be spreading the gospel and aware of the falsehood around me. I should be strong so I am not exploited or enticed.

In sports I hear the following saying often as a call to be aware, “keep your head on a swivel”. This is to remind that things are happening all around us and if we get too focused on one thing, we may miss that thing coming up behind us. These that are bring falsehood are looking for our focus on other things so that they are able to come up from behind in hopes that we are not even aware of their existence, let alone their motives. I have to be careful with all that are around and know that with my knowledge of God, I have the foundation to avoid the enticement and exploitation of those who wish me otherwise.

What is going on around you that you may not even be aware? Are you too focused on one thing that you may be missing that thing coming up from behind? What if you know of your knowledge of God and His word so that you could be careful of those around you and look out for the falsehoods that are there?

I believe this is a topic that I come across on a regular basis in my study. Maybe it is me in that I have to be constantly reminded that my reward is in heaven and not in this world, or it could be that it is such a vital topic that I have to continue to review. Seeking to do that which is in the interest of God and using Him as the example is the approach I should be taking each day. It is really easy to want the glory and be greedy as when I review things around me, I feel as though I am doing the work of God and others should be recognizing it and calling it out.

“⁵For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. ⁶Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 (ESV)

In this passage, Paul is reminding the church at Thessalonica that when he, Timothy, and Silvanus came to witness to them they came only to do the work of God and did not “require” anything of the people. Paul and team did not ask for to be placed on a pedestal are provided with any monetary gain in order to come. And when they arrived they did not proceed to require anything either. All they were interested in was bringing the gospel to the people. And as you look at the last part of verse six above, they could have based on their station in the name of Christ.

There is a time and a place for everything. I have to remember that I am here to “do God” and not to have gains in this world. In the mornings I use the Lord’s Prayer as an outline in my prayer and when you look at that example, we should open with glory to God and then thanks for provision. Beyond that what we ask for are ways to get by (more provision) and bring glory to God through our actions, repentance, and forgiveness. Nowhere are we asking for God to give us wealth, status, or any other of those societal desires.

“⁹Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹Give us this day our daily bread, ¹²and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’” — Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)

All of what I do should be to “do God” and not do me. I am a servant of God and He will provide that which I need to bring glory to him. I “need” no more than He provides and should not be seeking it out.

What is there that you have been searching for either before you go or when you arrive? Are you looking for that which brings you something here in this world and are you looking for more? What if you simply sought to “do God” and allowed Him to provide all that you are needing in this world, knowing that your reward is really in heaven?

I listen to social warriors and notice that they are strongly against the Christian values. There is a constant use of scripture in sequestered and out of context ways. The denouncing of anything that is a part of what they hold dear is taken as hate speech and anti whatever platform they are interested in today.

This morning I am reading in 1 Corinthians and specifically Paul is addressing those that are in the church at Corinth and their need to deal with those in the church who are defiling it through sexual immorality. As I read, I am drawn to the greed referenced in the text as that is the word I am currently studying. Paul is referring to the act of disassociating with those that are sexually immoral and display greed and other undesirable characteristics of the Christian faith. That is just it, disassociate with those in the faith that are of those characteristics, not those that are outside the faith.

“⁹I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— ¹⁰not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. ¹¹But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” — 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 (ESV)

Paul makes it clear that those we should concern our holding accountable are those who are among us and claim to be like us in faith and belief. Those in our midst are those that we are closest to and know more about them and their hearts (at least we should). I am responsible for the accountability of fellow Christians and those who are outside the faith, as Paul notes in verse 13 below, God judges those.

“¹³God judges those outside. ‘Purge the evil person from among you.’” — 1 Corinthians 5:13 (ESV)

Too often I believe that we find ourselves “judging” everyone, when we are really not here to judge at all. We are here to hold accountable those that know. Those that do not know, it is our responsibility to teach them so that they have an opportunity to turn from those ways and turn to God and His ways. Until those are a member of the flock, who am I to hold them accountable to that which is outside of what they know. They find themselves doing and knowing what they know and as they know, they are not doing anything wrong. Their immorality, greed, idolatry are of the world they are in and not of the Christian world. It is simply my duty as a Christian to bring the Christian world to them and educate them so they have the chance to join us in the midst of God. Until they do, I am to only love and continue to educate and leave the accountability actions to God. I am to disassociate and hold accountable those that are of the faith in the world of God.

What have you held against someone that may be outside of the Christian world you are? Are you holding them to a standard that they may not be educated? What if you were to only hold accountable and disassociate with those in the Christian world and allowed God to judge those outside?

“²⁵Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.” — Matthew 23:25-26 (ESV)

My pastor is working through the seven sins and this weekend was on greed. I was moved to study that word this week and I was taken to the above sermon of Jesus. Here I see Jesus talking to the outward and inward conditions. He is pointing out the false outward actions as the hearts were of the opposite. The outward actions of the scribes and Pharisees (noted here) are those that should be looked upon with reverence as those actions were of the highest order for to be as the example. The problem was that they were all a false view of what was/is really going on in the heart.

Recently in American politics the optics of what is said is certainly not what is unfolding as the actions that were taken. Those in the public eye are paying lip service to what is right and working to only act, where we can see, in the interest of what is right. There are improprieties that are happening behind closed doors that are not exactly the example of what right looks like, and they are proving to be the true window into the actual goings on in the heart.

I am disenchanted with all of the hypocrisy being seen in the public. I am looking to those in “authority” as those that should be the example of what right looks like and finding that to be far from the truth. I am seeing the “scribes and Pharisees” all over again, or continually depending on how you look at it. There is little to be seen in the heart of others and we are being played for fools with optics that really not what is really happening for real.

I am looking for those, or at least actions, that are accountable to the heart and what is in line with what is right. I may not like the idea that everything is out in the open at truthful, but at least there will be less of the “do as I say” things coming out. I am looking for those that are honest with me and those that, where I may not like what they have to say, at least I can trust them to be true to their words with their actions.

There is too much greed and corruption on the inside to be trusted on the outside. I long for the time when I can trust that what I see is what I am getting. I long for that time when truth is displayed for all to see. I long for the time when I can see the character of someone’s heart and not have to tiptoe around the falsehood of their actions.

What actions are you taking that are less than in line with your heart? Are you even aware of those actions and their lack of truthful alignment with your heart? What if you were to act on the truth in your heart to display for all to see?

“⁴Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.” — Exodus 7:4 (ESV)

The LORD speaking to Moses here makes it clear that even with the LORD behind him, Pharaoh will still not listen to words coming from Moses. God knows that it will take “great acts” to impact Pharaoh. And notice that it will take “great acts” not just acts themselves.

Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh and speak to him. They then, as instructed by God, Aaron cast a staff on the ground to turn into a serpent. Pharaoh was not impressed and had his team do the same thing. The staff of Aaron consumed the staffs Pharaoh’s team and yet Pharaoh was still not impressed and did not listen. So just acts did not do it. It was not until God began to plagues, yes plural, that the “great acts” begin to make a difference.

In my life, I have brought forth speech and works that seemed to fall on deaf ears and eyes. I look and do not see an impact that has been made until the acts become great. Even Jesus was ignored to some degree until He committed great acts to get the attention of others (water to wine, feeding 5000 from a lunch kit of one child, walking on water, turning over tables in the temple, and rising from the dead). What I have learned is that just speaking something is not really getting it done. I have to act and those acts have to be great to make an impact on the larger group.

My last couple of sentences above, I feel I have to explain a bit so as not to give the wrong impression. It is not that I should use the “great acts” to get everything done. It is that I must be willing to go to great lengths to do that which is right. I have to be willing to make a mess to to be heard, but that mess should be in line with the will of God and not in the interest of advancing my own agenda, thoughts, or feelings. Just because I may feel like we should do away with something or take on a new policy does not give me the right to act like a child throwing a temper tantrum. My “great acts” should be in the interest of advancing the gospel and the will of God.

Now, I come back to the idea of “great acts” and their impact on making a difference. In my personal life and for my own advancement, I still need take action as opposed to simply making statements and wanting them to come through. I have to be willing to act and not just wait. For the year 2023 I have chosen to live out the word “Act” to remind me to do so. I will have the full year and going forward (my 2022 word) to “Act”. I must remember to not just speak about things, I must take action. And with those actions, before taking the action, I have to review how those actions and work I am looking to commit to measures up with the advancement of the Gospel. When they align, I will take those “great acts”.

What experiences have you had as relates to speaking and not being heard? Are you then taking action? What if you aligned yourself with God and the advancement of the gospel and then take “great acts”?

This morning as I read, I was reminded of a phrase I use on a regular basis in my training classes, “Ignorance is okay, but ignorance by design is not”. I am sure this brings questions as to what I am referring to. Well, it is okay to not know something, but if you choose not to know, then there is a problem. How often is it that we simply choose not to know.

“¹⁷And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.” — Acts 3:17 (ESV)

Peter, speaking here in the portico of Solomon, is addressing the people after they have wondered in amazement at the healing of a beggar. Peter is referring back to the trial and crucifixion of Jesus and the acts of ignorance of the people as they carried them out. In this instance as relates to the beggar’s healing, Peter reminds them that they indeed are not ignorant to that which healed the man, just as they were not really ignorant of the suffering and death and resurrection of Jesus.

“¹⁸But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.” — Acts 3:18 (ESV)

How much that goes on in my life that I claim not to know about and yet, when I look back at past events and recordings, was it “foretold” and I did not log the in information nor did I heed it. I have to remember that just because I do not know or remember something does not absolve me of the consequences of my actions. I have to be responsible to dig for understanding and take aim to know and remember going forward.

I choose to know and therefore I will know. I cannot go through life with the excuses of not knowing for as I said, “ignorance is okay, but ignorance by design is not”. I may not know, yet I have a responsibility to learn and remember.

What is going on in your life that you claim to now know? Are you sure that you did not hear or learn it somewhere and are simply not recalling? What if you took every opportunity to learn and know and work to remember so that you will not be acting out of ignorance?

“⁷We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.” — Nehemiah 1:7 (ESV)

These are the words of Nehemiah as he is praying to God. He recognized that the people of Jerusalem had fallen away from God and were in need of forgiveness.

Just like the people of Jerusalem, I am in need of forgiveness and should make it known to God so that I can effectively ask for that forgiveness of the actions taken again Him. Whereas I have been saved of my sins, that does not give me the right to continue sinning intentionally, or unintentionally for that matter. I have a duty to God to follow Him and that includes that all of my actions should be in line with Him.

When I have fallen away and every day, I must devote myself to God and the repentance of my sins against Him. I may not fully know the sins I have committed, but I am still responsible for them none the less. My repentance should be in line with the example that Nehemiah provides here in this passage.

“⁴As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.” — Nehemiah 1:4 (ESV)

Notice that Nehemiah “sat down and wept and mourned for days”. He fasted and prayed. He did not just give the cursory “thanks and forgive me”, Nehemiah was distraught and devoted to gaining forgiveness for the people of Jerusalem. I have to have that same devotion.

There are many times that I simple go through the motions in my prayers. I will simply say the words out of habit and complete them as part of a task to be completed for the day. That is not going to get it done. Yes, there is something to say about the idea of praying each day, but it is more about the substance and quality and meaning and sincerity of prayer than it is about the frequency and just completion of a task.

Just as Nehemiah devoted himself to his prayer to God for days on end, so should I.

“¹⁷pray without ceasing,” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV)

This verse gives the framework of what devotion to God should look like and that goes with all time, but also in the instance when we know that we have acted against Him.

What actions have you taken against God? Are you repentant of those actions? What if you were to devote yourself to repentance and were to “pray without ceasing” as a show of your devotion?

Whatever it is that I do, I am always found out. Not really something I think about often, but it is very true. Even surprises and secrets that are kept that are good, are always found out. Either by intention or not, everything is always found out.

This morning I am reading in Joshua of the deception from the Gibeonites. These people decided to act in the way of deception to gain protection from conquer. They pretended to be something they were not in order to gain favor.

“³But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, ⁴they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, ⁵with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly.” — Joshua 9:3-5 (ESV)

Notice the great lengths that were taken to hide their true identity. What a set of great pretenders. The reality was they lived among the others in the area although were not widely known to all. They spent a great deal of time to create this elaborate scheme to gain favor for something that was not their due, a covenant with Joshua.

Now their scheme was going pretty well even with all of the questions that came as they asked for their covenant until… Just when they were thought to be home free and had gotten away with the great deception, a group of their neighbors came to Joshua and exposed them for the frauds they were. The Gibeonites thought they had everything in the bag and were well on their way. These people were, I believe constantly looking over their shoulder with the thought they would be found out at some point, and they indeed were.

“¹⁶At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they lived among them. ¹⁷And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.” — Joshua 9:16-17 (ESV)

Someone recognized them and they were found out. I know that I will ultimately be found out and therefor I have to be careful with what I choose to keep secret. Are their things to hide away for a time, yes. Some surprises are meant to elicit a jovial response when revealed, and that is just it, when revealed, not exposed.

My acts will always be found out, only when they are I have to be sure that those are the reveals and not the exposure. The difference as I see them are that I choose to tell as opposed to having those secrets thrust into the limelight for all to see. I am responsible for the acts that I commit and with those acts I should not be afraid to have them out in the light. Will I get it right all the time, NO. I do have the responsibility to take responsibility for those secrets and do all I can to ensure that the right amount of transparency is given for all of them. My acts will always be found out.

What acts are you taking on that you are looking to “get away with”? Are those acts/secrets those that you are hoping never come about? What if you were to work to only hold those that are supposed to be revealed instead of those that will likely be exposed, for all acts will be found out?

“¹²So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.” — James 2:12 (ESV)

I read this verse and see that I am to be speaking and acting as a follower of Christ. I am no better than anyone and should hold and carry myself to that standard. I have given myself to Christ and must act and speak accordingly or I am no better than those around me.

James is writing on the “sin of partiality” here in this passage. He reminds me that I have to act and speak according to God in all that I do.

“¹⁰For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. ¹¹For he who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” — James 2:10-11 (ESV)

Just because I may not sin in one area, does not absolve me of sin in another. I am responsible to adhering to God’s law in all that I do. This goes for all of my actions and not just in the area of sins. I am to treat everyone the same and not show any partiality or favoritism to any I come in contact with. I see and hear in my reading and study on the topic of leader that one should treat the janitor the same as the CEO in business. This goes for my role as a follower of Christ as well. I am to treat the least of these as the greatest of these to demonstrate my love for all in the name of Christ.

I am to act as a follower of Christ with all as I do not know the one who needs to hear the gospel. I may miss the opportunity to spread the gospel when I am not acting as a follower of Christ myself. I have to always act in accordance to God’s law to ensure that I am demonstrating His love to all.

What actions are you taking or not taking that could indicated your partiality? Are you showing favoritism to any you come in contact? What if you were to always act according to God’s law and treating all as those deserving of God’s love?