In this section we see Paul charge the believers at Ephesus to take up their new life in Christ. He begins by charging them to not walk as the Gentiles do, whose minds are hardened and who have become calloused to God and do all things that are impure. He says that this is not what they were taught in Christ, but they were taught to put off the old self which belonged to their former manner of life, and to put on the new self, which is created in the likeness of God's holiness and righteousness. Here again he charges the believers to speak the truth to each other and to put away falsehood. He charges them in particular that it is okay to be angry, but not to sin in anger, and to not let the sun go down on your anger. He also tells them to be generous to everyone, so that the thief no longer has reason to steal but will be able to give to anyone who has need. He concludes by telling them to be kind to one another and forgive one another, as God in Christ for gave them.
"Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil." Psalm 37:8
"so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow." 2nd Corinthians 2:7
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you," Matthew 6:14
So much could be drawn from this text, but I think quite possibly the most relevant thing to draw from this passage would be the part about not letting the sun go down on your anger. Our culture today tells us that if somebody does something to make you angry, to be angry, and that it is okay to be angry and not forgive and make things right. Now in this text it does say it is okay to be angry, and we have proof of that else where (Jesus got angry on a number of occasions), but the text also says to not sin in your anger. Now I take that to mean two things. First, don't do anything in your anger that would be considered a sin to your fellow man. Secondly, I think here Paul is saying it is a sin to remain angry and not forgive. Here Paul tells the believers that they should not let the sun go down on their anger, which says to me that they should be not holding on to or dwelling in their anger, but forgiving as soon as is possible.
Now what does this look like, I don't really know. I am still trying to work this out myself. But I do feel that we as a culture and as believers especially, need to get away from holding grudges. I think we need to be honest with one another and let people know they have made us angry, and I think we need to be more willing to forgive. In my relationship with Janie, we try to practice this, so we have a rule. If one of us is mad at the other, we don't leave each other until we have worked it out, and I am sure that will continue into the different aspects of our relationship to come. Now we certainly don't always abide by this rule, but we do try really hard, and I think it does make our relationship better because we are more honest and resolve our junk more quickly.
LORD, help me today to forgive as you forgave me. Help me to not hold on to my anger but to let it okay and restore the fellowship with those who have made me angry. Amen.
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