Posted by Charlie on Jul 17, 2009 in
Devotions Scripture: Isaiah 29,30,31; James 1
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:19-21
Observation
Anger is such a tricky emotion. Lately I’ve felt like I’ve made a little progress with anger, but just a couple days ago something didn’t go my direction and, wham! There is was.
James gives good advice. Be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. I’ve still been pondering the anger memory verse I was working on about a month ago: He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules is own spirit than he who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32)
Application
I think part of the key is in the next verse of James 1. He commands me to set aside everything in my life that defiles me, and to receive the implanted Word of God. What surprised me in these verses today is how I’m supposed to receive the implanted Word. James says to do it with meekness, or humility, which captured my attention. I did a fast Greek check, and Bingo! There’s that Greek word prautes again.
Usually prautes is translated “gentleness,” and refers to my dealings with others, but here it refers to the way I receive the Word of God. Here’s another fast look at the full definition: “A disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious, and that has the passions under control.” (See full post on prautes from June 8). It relates to ruling my spirit well (kind of like Proverbs 16:32), and, hmmm, if I’ve really received and implanted the Word like this, it will affect my temper, won’t it?
Prayer
Father, thank you for your Word, and for the way Jesus demonstrates the ultimate expression of prautes. Please help me to receive your Word with prautes day by day, and please let it change my life to make me more and more like Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Tags: anger, humility, meekness, prautes, Word of God
Posted by Charlie on Jun 8, 2009 in
Devotions Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7, 8, 9; Ephesians 4
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1–3
Observation
The word I honed in on in these verses today is “gentleness,” because it fits in with what God has been speaking to me for the past number of days. As I was going through Proverbs recently, two of the verses that stood out to me were Proverbs 16:32, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city,” and Proverbs 25:28, “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.”
The key concept here is having rule over your own spirit. In Ephesians 4 Paul asserts that gentleness is one of the qualities which demonstrates that I am walking worthy of the calling with which I have been called. The Greek word for gentleness is prautes, and it has a broader meaning than merely “gentleness.” The Word Wealth entry in the Spiritual Life Bible has one of the best descriptions of the meaning of prautes I’ve seen anywhere: “A disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious, and that has the passions under control. The word is best translated “meekness, ” not as an indication of weakness, but of power and strength under control. The person who possesses this quality pardons injuries, corrects faults, and rules his own spirit well.”
Aristotle described the link between anger and ruling one’s spirit well in his definition of prautes: “It is neither too hasty-tempered nor too slow-tempered, nor does it get angry with the people with whom it ought not, or fail to get angry with those with whom it ought.”
The new testament is full of directives that involve prautes. In Galatians 5 it is one of the fruit of the Spirit. It is used in reference to the Christian discipline of others (2 Corinthians 10:1 and Galatians 6:1), in facing opposition (2 Timothy 2:24–25 and Numbers 12:3 (Septuagint)), in defending the faith (1 Peter 3:4 and 3:15), and instructing others (James 1:21, 3:13). It is used as a description of the character of Christ in 2 Corinthians 10:1. It doesn’t take long to start getting the picture that prautes is a vital element in the mature Christian life.
Application
The good news for me today is that prautes is part of the fruit of the Spirit. God himself is overflowing with prautes, and he desires to develop it in my life until it is woven into the depths of my character. Romans 8:5–6 says, “…for those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” My job today is to make sure I set my mind and heart on following him, and to allow his Spirit to do the deep work in me that will bring his attributes to bear in my life.
Prayer
Father, I love you and want to be more like you. I desire a character that looks like yours, and a temper that is under the rule of your Spirit. Please help me to set my mind on the things of the Spirit today, and build your prautes in me I pray, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Tags: anger, gentleness, humility, meekness, prautes
Posted by Charlie on May 30, 2009 in
Devotions Scripture: Proverbs 13, 14, 15; Romans 11
He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.
Proverbs 14:29
Observation
Proverbs has quite a bit to say about anger. A man who is quick to anger lays the foundation of trouble and exhibits folly. Angry words wound and stir up strife. My favorite verse on anger is actually in tomorrow’s reading: He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city (Proverbs 16:32). That makes a good memory verse, and an excellent reminder that there is great value in a temper that is under the control of the Holy Spirit.
Application
“Hi, my name is Charlie and I’ve got an anger problem.”
“Hello Charlie….”
I confess that I don’t deal with disappointment well, and I’ve had a bit of a temper since I was a kid. I don’t like the fruit of getting angry—I want my life to be characterized by righteousness.
According to James 1:20, …the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. I’m putting myself on public record today that I am seeking God to grow in my ability to stop and seek to be led by the Holy Spirit when I feel anger rising. He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.
Prayer
Father God, I’m serious about wanting to grow in my ability to submit to your leading instead of having my temper flare. Please help me today to hear your voice and to follow your lead. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Tags: anger, folly, righteousness, temper
Posted by Charlie on Mar 18, 2009 in
Devotions Scripture: Joshua 1, 2; Psalm 37, 1 Corinthians 3
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.
Psalm 37:7-8
Observation
There are many triggers for anger. In the Psalm David talks about anger that results from observing the wicked. God reminds him that the prosperous way of the wicked is temporary, and that they will soon wither like grass.
Application
If I have a dragon to slay it’s anger. Mine mostly revolves around issues like my personal rights, and not handling disappointment well. David’s reminder to take the long look at eternity is a helpful step in processing today’s disappointments and violations of my perceived rights.
In essence Paul says essentially the same thing in 1 Corinthians 3. They were getting bent out of shape over which leader they looked to. Paul reminded them that in the big scheme of things they had it all because they belonged to Christ. “For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” (1Corinthians 3:21-23).
Prayer
Precious Father, I lay down my personal rights to you this morning. Today is about knowing you, not about my convenience or comfort. Please grant me yourself today and let that be more than sufficient for a day of joy and fulfillment. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Tags: anger, eternity, sufficiency
