TODAY'S DEVOTION: SEPTEMBER 10, 2020
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."
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James 1:19-20 (KJV)
​Reflection:
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Another unhealthy way to respond to emotions is to thoughtlessly let it all hang out, to tell anybody and everybody exactly how you feel.
The apostle Peter is a great example of indiscriminate expression.
Peter was the John Wayne of the New Testament--
a real door slammer.
He had no problem telling anyone what was on his mind or how he felt. I like to refer to him as the one-legged apostle because he always had one foot in his mouth.
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Peter's impulsive nature got him into trouble more than once.
In one setting, he was the spokesperson for God, and Jesus said to him, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."
(Matthew 16:17).
Then moments later he spoke for Satan, and Jesus had to rebuke him:
"Get thee behind me, Satan!" (verses 22, 23).
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It was Peter who missed the point on the Mount of Transfiguration by suggesting that they build three tabernacles to honor Moses, Elijah and the Master.
It was Peter who impulsively whacked off the ear of Caiaphas' servant during Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane. And it was Peter who promised to follow Jesus anywhere, even to the death, then swearing only hours later that he never knew Him.
The fact that Peter became a leader in the New Testament church is evidence of the powerful transformation effected by the Holy Spirit.
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Indiscriminate expression of emotions may be somewhat healthy for you, but it may be unhealthy for others.
"There, I'm glad I got that off my chest," you may say after an outburst.
But in the process you just destroyed your wife, husband, or children. Paul admonished:
"Be ye angry, and sin not.." (Ephesians 4:26).
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If you wish to be angry and not sin, then be angry the way Christ was:
Be angry at sin. He turned over the tables, not the money changers.
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Prayer:
Heavenly Father, teach me to express myself in a gracious way so I don't hurt others as I seek emotional release. Help me that my attitude and temperament shall be Spirit controled. I surrender this struggle into Your hands, in the name of Jesus l pray, Amen.