Turning tables

Our journey through Jesus' last week in Jerusalem conjures up many different emotions. We also note the emotional impact on Jesus himself, reflecting on his passion and purpose. One of the incidents that leaves us a little confused is when he turns over the tables in the Temple. However, the more we read into it the more we comprehend the heart of Christ. When our worship loses its main focus (i.e., God) and becomes bogged down with the peripheral issues, then we miss the whole point. 

Matthew 21:12-13 - "Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”

If Christ came to you today, what "tables" might he overturn?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The destructive nature of hate

There is so much hate around at the moment. Perhaps let me rephrase this - hate has been around since the beginning of time, but we are being bombarded with more examples of it, thanks to social media.

 What is also scary is that the attitudes of people can so easily rub off on us, without us realising the impact of their acidic attitudes. In reading through Esther 3, I was shocked by the hated of Haman for Mordecai and subsequently the Jewish nation. I wonder if Haman understood that his hate for another human being was also hurting his own life? 

Ann Landers says it like this: “Hate is like acid. It can damage the vessel in which it is stored as well as destroy the object on which it is poured.” 

Jesus spoke to his followers about the dangers of hating people and it must have been because he knew the incredible pain it can cause. Jesus said:

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:26-28)

What are your thoughts? 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

The war within

I have mentioned before that in my daily work diary I have a quote at the bottom of each page. Sometimes these quotes are "nice", but they don't really speak to my current circumstances. Other days they strike a real chord with me and speak great words of wisdom. This is the quote for today (12 August):

"If you avoid the conflict to keep the peace you start a war inside yourself." (Unknown)

Don't you find these words to be true for you? How often have we kept the peace only to end up creating a war within ourselves. It is very hard to find a balance to speak the truth in love and to avoid conflict. 

Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

When anger leads to foolish decisions

In these present times it is hard not to let anger win out. Most of us are living on edge and the slightest provocation can send us spinning off on a tangent. I was reminded again this week, while reading through the book of Esther, that when the “ego” of a person is pricked, it can lead to all kinds of consequences - one of them is anger!

Pietro Aletino (1492 – 1557) wrote that “angry people are blind and foolish.” This is so true. Our anger can blind us to the other people around us and often brings about a fracture in relationships. It is no wonder that Paul said:  “In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Ephesians 4:26-27). 

Paul understood that when we get angry we are skating on thin ice. We can easily become the victims of our own folly, and so can those who come across our path. 

Question: Have you ever had an angry moment where your decisions have not been the wisest? 

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Anger continued

“The person who is a slave to anger; 
the person who speaks in the accent of contempt;
the person destroys another’s good name may never have committed murder in action, but he is a murderer at heart.” - William Barclay

These are the words that Barclay uses when he reflects on Jesus words in Matthew 5:21-24. It is easy to get all smug and say "I have never killed anyone and so look at how good I am", but what is really going on inside of us? Is there something that is potentially as dangerous and hurtful? Something that may not kill a person physically, but rather destroy their name and reputation?

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment." - Matthew 5:21-22

Living in Grace
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The destructive nature of Anger

We live in an angry world. People are angry with each other over a myriad of issues, but in the end, a lot of our anger ends up being self-destructive. Read these interesting words from Frederick Buechner on how anger destroys us in the end.

 

"Of the 7 deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savour to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back--in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you." - Frederick Buechner

What do you think about this?

Ephesians 4: 26 - "In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry."

Living in grace

D3LM3

What to do with your disappointment?!

So when you face disappointment what do you do with it?
Shout? 
Get angry? 
Seek revenge? 
Feel depressed?
When Samuel was disappointed he turned to God and he prayed about his disappointment all night!

1 Samuel 15:11-12 - "Samuel was angry when he heard this. He prayed his anger and disappointment all through the night."

If you carry on reading this passage in 1 Samuel you will note that he prayed through is disappointment first before he confronted Saul. This is a good lesson for most of us - praying first can help us avoid compounding our situation by speaking out of anger!

Living in Grace
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What makes your blood boil?

So, what makes your blood boil? What makes you so angry that you could do something drastic?

This morning I was driving the kids to school and we always have to turn across a busy intersection. Everyday we see cars jump the red traffic light and today was no different - in fact, in the space of a few minutes we saw 2 cars do it and both times nearly caused an accident (the second time, it was our family who were nearly wiped out by a dangerous driver). This makes my BLOOD BOIL! There is no law and order any more and sadly some innocent people will die at that intersection soon.

So, what makes your blood boil?

The fact that 4 Rhinos are killed every day in South Africa.
That our National leaders are spending 4.5 Million on their SONA after party?
That 21 000 people die from hunger-related causes daily, most of them are children?
That fundamentalists kill thousands of innocent civilians in the name of "religion?"?
That Eskom CEO's will still get massive bonuses despite being totally "shocking" at their jobs?
That food prices continue to rise, despite the fuel price decreases?
That women and children continue to be abused, raped and violated in our country?
That around 85% of our population follow some kind of faith and yet we have such a high rate of crime and corruption in our country?

Your turn ___________________________________________!

The bible tells us that there were a few things that made Jesus' blood boil too. The incident in the temple is a prime example. When Jesus was angry with something, it was always about an injustice that was taking place - and he was willing to correct this.

"So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables." - John 2:15

As you reflect on this today, may the Spirit of God prompt us to do something constructive with our discontent. Perhaps we are the ones who can start making a difference?!

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Angry with someone

Are you angry with someone at the moment? Is your anger justified? If you answered 'yes' to these 2 questions, then let me ask you are 3rd question:

"What have you done with your anger?"

Paul gives us some great advice on what to do with the anger we may be experiencing.‘In your anger do not sin’: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." - Ephesians 4:26

Anger is a natural emotion, but we are urged to be careful with what we do with our anger. Let's not allow our anger to hurt others or to get revenge. And where possible, let's say sorry, if we have allowed our anger to hurt someone we love.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

I'll take that - Lent 30

"I'd take that!"
I found myself saying these words when I read through Psalm 30 this evening, especially verse 5.

"For his anger lasts only a moment,
    but his favour lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
    but rejoicing comes in the morning."

If you gave me the option of a moment of righteous anger, followed by a lifetime of Godly favour - I'd take that! The more I get to know the heart of God, the more I reflect on how anger is not God's natural desire. Sure, God can get very angry and often he has cause to be frustrated and agro with us, yet this is not what God wants us to remember of Him. God wants us to remember that this anger passes and it is always followed by moments of glorious favour and blessing.

As we contemplate the Cross this Holy Week, remember that is was a mixture of anger (at sin) and Divine Love that allowed God to send Jesus into the world. His anger needed to be revealed in order that his favour would be given.

Prayer:
Thank you Lord, that although we may weep in the evening, there will be rejoicing in the morning. Your promise is always to turn the tables! Pain replaced by joy. Sin replaced by Love. Conflict replaced with Peace. Amen.

Living in Grace
D3LM3