Anger Management
“Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the high priests.” Matthew 26:14
Have you ever just “lost it” because what you got was less than what you bought. You bought the new revolutionary item off of QVC. You waited for weeks in anticipation; just imagining how this new thing was going to change your life, and when it finally arrived it was not what you expected? Weren’t you disappointed, even mad, because you had wasted your money, and time over this item and it let you down.
That’s the situation that we see Judas in. He had laid everything on the line for Jesus. He knew that the Messiah of God was coming to set people free. Of course, in his natural state the only thing that Judas realized he was in bondage to was the Roman government. That was, he thought, the only thing that he needed to be rescued from, and when Jesus did not start a revolution to throw the Romans out of Israel he was disappointed, and angry. In the middle of his discouragement, Judas went to the High Priests because he was being led by his emotions. Hear me, when I say this it is ALWAYS a dangerous thing to let your emotions make your decisions.
Emotions are a part of being human, and it can be a good, even great, thing to show your emotions; but we can never let them control our lives because emotions go up and down like the waves of the sea. Emotions can be changed by things as simple as the weather; they are good to have, but they are unreliable.
That’s why King David asked God, “Restore in me the joy of Thy salvation.”-Psalm 51, and Jesus told us in the parable of the talents, Matthew 25, that we should strive to enter the joy of the Lord. Truly, joy is an emotion, but the joy spoken of here is more than an emotion. The word gives the sense of contentment and satisfaction. We need to be totally content with God! When you and I set aside our petty emotions that change from day to day, hour to hour then we can find the joy of the Lord that we once had.
If we are not content with Jesus, and Jesus alone; then we will never be content with anything. Horatio Spafford penned the words to the great hymn, “It is well with my soul” shortly after he lost all five of his children. In the midst of his emotional heartbreak he was able to recall his dependence on God, so as not to be swayed by his emotions.
As you go through this week I hope you remember his famous words,
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
—————————————————————–
Father, I thank You for giving me emotions, but I ask that You would help me keep my emotions in check; so that I am not controlled by them because when they lead me then You do not have total control. My emotions are good as is any gift from You, but they are not made to run my life, and I ask that You help me control them. In Jesus’ name, Amen
——————————————————————
The image above can be found at:
Yes, You Can Ministry 