AUGUST 8, 2021 CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL : TOPIC – EVIL PASSION.
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CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 2021.
EVIL PASSION.
Read Proverbs 14:16-18
MEMORISE: A quick tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of wicked intensions is hated (Proverbs 14:17).
EXPOSITION
There are two kinds of evil passion. A quick-tempered man that reacts without discretion, or thought, anger and resentment is shown in his face; he says and does many foolish things, which he afterwards is ashamed of. Second is the man of wicked intensions, one that hides his anger, covers his resentment, contrives schemes to revenge himself, and awaits an opportunity to put them in execution.
Unjustified anger of either kind is sin (Matt. 5:22). But weakness is one thing, wilfulness is another! Rash anger is contemptible; calculated malice is abominable! The one man cannot be trusted and threatens the peace; the other man must be avoided and defended against, like the devil himself (Jn. 8:44). Moses and Aaron missed Canaan for foolish anger (Num. 20:10-12), but the great God hanged Haman and his ten sons for his malicious long -term strategy for genocide against the Jews then in Persia (Est. 3:5-15; 7:13-14).
It is worthy of note that not all anger is sin. Moses was justifiably angry at Israel worshipping the golden calf (Exod. 32:19). And Jesus was angry at the cruelty of those religious Jews (Mk. 3:5). Properly directed anger for a righteous course is good and holy. Any other anger must be kept free from sin, and short-lived (Eph. 4:26).
Reserve anger for the race cases where God or truth is attacked, not where you might lose a little money or reputation. Keep your spirit ruled tightly; ignore what others do to you. As others provoke you, you have also provoke God with infinity offences and you continue to do so, if He ever turned His anger or hatred for sin against you, it would consume your life and cast you down in hell. Forgive your neighbour. Forgive your perceived enemy. God knows how to fight for you (cf. Rom. 12:18ff)!
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Father, help me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to control my temper.
2. Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to forgive those who offends me as you forgive me my own offences.
3. Pray that God should help children holding grudges against their “irresponsible” parents to overcome the pains involved, so that the vicious cycles wouldn’t continue with them.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Psalms 2:2 – 7:14; Romans 2:1 – 2:22.