The Daily + Tonight at Immanuel!
Bring Your Anger to God: We can entrust our anger to a good, wise, and just God.
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:19).
Anger is the easiest strong emotion for many of us. It sits just under the surface. It wells up and overflows and explodes. It feels good to get angry. And maybe that should be a warning. Most of the best things in life don’t come easy. Most of our best traits aren’t instinctive and reactive but ones we mature into.
But some things are worthy of our anger. There is such a thing as righteous anger that burns at injustice, abuses of power, and the victimization of the powerless. The Bible tells us that God gets angry. He is never capricious. He is no hothead. He is a patient God, abounding in steadfast love, who abhors evil and desires good for his people. So he gets angry.
James tells us that “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” This is why, even when we are right to be angry, it so often feels futile and fruitless. We don’t have the power or means to bring about justice. So we easily slide into bitterness and resort to revenge. We are easily eaten up by our anger or wield it maliciously.
But God’s anger is never ineffectual. His justice never fails. And no evil will escape his eye or his reach. So when Romans 12:19 says, “never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God,” it is not to inhibit us. It is not taking away our satisfaction. It is certainly not shrugging at justice. Rather it is a promise and a reminder: “leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”
The wrath of God does bring about the righteousness of God, so we entrust our anger and our helplessness in the face of evil to him. We take God at his word that he will handle his business so we can be freed from the burden and temptation that anger brings. To trust God in this is neither passivity nor apathy. It is active faith, trusting in God’s goodness and power to bring about restoration and justice in the end.
TONIGHT - “Friendship” in the Sadler Chapel!
Adults - Join us tonight at 6:30 pm in the SADLER CHAPEL as we continue our Wednesday Nights at Immanuel, exploring the Biblical theme of friendship. Please come to Sadler from the steps on 44th Avenue. Wheelchair access to Sadler is available via the ramp off Park Avenue. All are welcome!
City Groups - Students are encouraged to join us tonight in the gym for City Groups! Doors open at 6 pm, Bible study starts at 6:45 pm, and will wrap up by 7:45 pm.
iKids Midweek - Wednesday night classes are open for ages two and up. We would love to have your kids join us for Bible study and scripture memorization tonight from 6:15-7:30 pm!’
Sunday Recap
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