Verse of the Day 9/25

Verse of the Day 9/25

Ephesians 4:26-27 ???In your anger do not sin???:??Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,??^27??and do not give the devil a foothold.?????? New International Version (NIV)

Verse 26 in the NKJV below, states "be angry, and do not sin".?? Reading that should cause us to stop and take notice.?? We are often told not to be angry, but there is an anger that has it's place.?? It may be that Paul is writing about a "righteous indignation" against injustice; immorality and other types of sin.?? We can be angry about things today such as abortion; drug addiction; gambling or many others.?? The NIV above, puts it "in your anger do not sin".?? It acknowledges our anger, it is something that will pop up, especially in relation to the sins mentioned.

Now, think about what it means to "not let the sun go down on your anger"; put it behind you; don't let it fester or consume you.?? Why??? Because it can give the devil a foothold.?? Anger held onto gives the devil a foothold.?? It can creep into other areas of our lives; into personal relationships with friends and loved ones bringing bitterness and robbing us of joy.

David Jeremiah writes, ???a ???foothold??? is a ???place??? where a climber can insert his foot when scaling a cliff. A foothold was needed by soldiers seeking to gain entrance to an enemy stronghold or fort.Keep short accounts; fill in the footholds; erase the sinful places from the map of your heart. Give the devil no opportunity. If the emotion of anger appears, make sure it has a godly purpose."    The passage below is one that should be read often as a reminder of how we are to live.   

Ephesians 4:31-32?? Get rid of??all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.??^32??Be kind and compassionate to one another,??forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.?????? New International Version (NIV)

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Ephesians 4:25-32??New King James Version (NKJV)

Do Not Grieve the Spirit

^25??Therefore, putting away lying,?????Let??each one??of you??speak truth with his neighbor,?????for??we are members of one another.??^26?????Be angry, and do not sin???: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,??^27??nor give??^[a]place to the devil.??^28??Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather??let him labor, working with??his??hands what is good, that he may have something??to give him who has need.??^29??Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but??what is good for necessary??^[b]edification,??that it may impart grace to the hearers.??^30??And??do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.??^31??Let all bitterness, wrath, anger,??^[c]clamor, and??evil speaking be put away from you,??with all malice.??^32??And??be kind to one another, tenderhearted,??forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.