Fire-Fighting

Be angry without sinning. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the devil any opportunity to work.

Ephesians 4:26-27 GWT

Do you ever get angry about stuff? Just stuff. Stuff that you can't physically do anything to change?

Back in the 70s, Eddie Chiles, former owner of the Texas Rangers, was an outspoken advocate for a smaller and less intrusive federal government. He was angry about what he perceived to be wrong about the US government.  His radio commentaries were legendary and there was even an ad campaign complete with bumper stickers that proclaimed, "I'm mad, too, Eddie!"  Have you ever noticed how easily you can fall into that anger and frustration when goaded by an inflammatory radio host or Facebook? All that energy wasted because the truth is that very few people do more than gripe and grouse to each other. 

Did you know that Proverbs 22:24-25 warns us? Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul. If you think about it, you know that's the absolute Truth and you can get there in less than 6 seconds, depending on the subject at hand. And then there are those who retort, Well, you fight fire with fire!  I remember a good answer I saw for that. The statement read, When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water. And as Christians, we should also use water to put out fires.

And Jesus proclaimed Himself the Living Water. He gave Himself for us to put out the fires of hell that would consume us. Don’t give the devil any opportunity to work. 

Prayer:

Father,

         Deliver us from the fiery darts of the wicked. Let the fullness of our joy in You be found in Your presence. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen