Remember all those signs that tell you how everything you ever needed to know you learned in kindergarten? This is somewhat similar -- it's telling us what wise and faithful behavior looks like. We learn it here in Scripture, but we often forget it when we go into the world. We get defensive and upset, often because we're afraid our self-image is being threatened or tarnished. Scripture tells us to let go of our self-image and to let God define us. Then we're not worried about defending ourself or protecting our reputation. Then we let go of being jealous and selfishly ambitious. When we're not worried about where we rank among others, then we don't get as angry. We work for peace.
Sometimes, I think we have to get angry to pursue peace. There are people in the world who will take advantage of others, particularly children, and when we see that happening, we should be angry, and to work for peace may mean we don't do peaceful things. I don't know when and where to draw those lines, but I do know that Jesus got upset when he saw unrighteousness. When we do get angry, we should test our anger, to ensure it's really about unrighteousness and we aren't somehow tied up in it. It's a hard thing to do, but necessary -- it's part of pouring ourself out so that Christ can fill us.
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