Leaving Marks of Rage - Encouragement Café - December 9, 2015

Leaving Marks of Rage

Café Menu for Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Today’s Special is:  Please Leave Off The Ketchup

Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Joan Walker Hahn

Main Ingredient:
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV

Entrée:
Have you ever experienced road rage? 

I was traveling one day and had to get onto an interstate.   Although I thought I was moving at the pace of the other vehicles, I pulled in front of someone who wasn’t very pleased with me.

Once he got around me, he moved back over in my lane and slowed down.  Next thing I knew, here came a cheeseburger out of his window and it plastered on my windshield!  It only stayed there a few seconds before it flew off, but it did leave some ketchup and mustard behind.

It seems very funny now, but at the time it really startled me.  I felt I had done nothing wrong and yet someone openly exhibited anger toward me.

We live in a world where it doesn’t seem to take a lot for people to become angry.  It’s hard to live a Godly life, exhibit Godly behavior, while we are being attacked.  Yet as Christians, we are to speak kind words instead of attacking others.    

But how can we do these things?  Especially when we think we have been the one wronged?

1. Remember Who’s we are. We are to be imitators of Christ.  

2. Remember What we are. When we accept Christ, we are new creations.  

3. Remember When to act. We should be living Godly lives at all times.

4. Remember Where we are going.  When we keep an eternal perspective, we can live with hopeful anticipation of what is to come.

5. Remember Why we are to forgive.  If Christ can forgive us, then who are we to not forgive?

Take Out:
It’s not always easy to be patient and kind with others. 

When we fail to respond with love toward others around us, we leave marks on them, just like ketchup and mustard on a windshield.  When we respond with Godly behavior, we not only are exhibiting the love of Christ toward others, we are keeping the windshields of our heart and life clean before Christ.

Dessert:
Dear Heavenly Father, Sometimes it’s really hard to not respond with anger when I am attacked.  Help me to remember to allow You to live in and through me in every situation I may face.  When someone shows me anger, may I respond in kindness.  When someone treats me with malice, may I respond with compassion.  Help me to exhibit Your love to all and keep my heart clean before You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

© 2015 by Joan Walker Hahn.  All rights reserved.

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