Living Jesus: Slow to Anger

This Sunday I asked the class to fill-in-the-blank: Anger leads to _____________.

"Death"
"Destruction"
"Trouble"
"Nothing good"

and the list goes on.

Of the 8-10 answers we had, only one was positive:

"Sometimes justice"

Our experience coincides with God's good Word.

We can read about times that God got angry or Jesus got angry.
So the point is not "don't get angry" the point is what we do with that anger.
Jesus is clear in this section of the Sermon in Matthew 5:
First, don't call people names and then settle matters quickly.

To "live Jesus," Christians need to be the peacemakers that Jesus just spoke about in the beatitudes.

Proverbs 15:1 says, "A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger"
If we answer our offenders with harsh words, we only perpetuate the problems. If we can respond gently, we can put out fires.

*If you do a survey of the Bible to find out what the Word says about how we should be instead of angry you will find terms like "gentle" "self control" "love" "patience" "peace" and "rejoice"
It is uncanny that these are all things listed as the fruit of the Spirit!
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.