Angry at Sin

In Ephesians 4:26-28 we read:

“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. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need." (NIV)

This little verse is often used all on its own, but its proper meaning is best taken in context. The entire passage is talking about how we should live worthy of the calling. How we should emulate Christ, who emulates God.

Other versions state it this way:

"Be angry and sin not. Do not let the sun go down on your anger."

The second version is actually a better translation of the text. The meaning is that we should be angry at sin...so angry that we don't do it. "Don't let the sun go down on your anger" means not to let your anger toward sin come to an end.

It's important to differentiate: We are to be angry at sin but not at the sinner. Hate the sin and love the sinner. That is the character of God--holy, righteous, hater of sin--that we are to emulate.

In Luke 11:24 we read the passage about how an evil spirit left a man, then returned to find the "house" swept clean and put in order. So the spirit brought seven more demons worse than himself to live in the man.

Being "swept clean and in order" doesn't necessarily mean the man had turned to God. If he had, his "house" would have been filled with the Holy Spirit. As it was, the demon returned to find the house cleaned up but still empty. This is what happens if you don't fill your life with God, with His Word, and allow the Holy Spirit to take control. If you try to straighten up your own life without Jesus, you're bound to fail again.

Satan is constantly trying to bring you down. He doesn't look for a gaping hole in your life...he looks for the little cracks that you might not notice. He'll find the tiniest point at which to enter your life.

According to Ephesians 4:27, we are to not let the sun go down on our anger (against sin) so that we don't "give the devil a foothold."

Keep the Word of God active in your life. Remember that when Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, He used the Word of God as His weapon. Without God's Word, you can't stand strong. So keep the Word of God active and don't give the devil a foothold!

But if you are angry at sin and don't let the sun go down on that anger, you won't let the devil take a foothold.

Prayer Requests

• Charlie and Heather ask for prayer for Heather, who is battling to get her two daughters back. Their father Kenny doesn't care about the girls; he just likes to have control over Heather. Keep Kenny in your prayers as well.
• Pray that Norma gets back with the Lord.
• Amee's son's aunt is dying of cancer.
• Theresa's brother Ricky died in the hospital following surgery. The doctors haven't yet figured out why.
• Pray for Karen in Mongolia as she does medical missions work. She has some problems with her legs, making it hard for her to get around.
• Robin's brother David is having open-heart surgery. This is a new procedure that will be televised nationwide. Pray it goes well.
• Pray for Mike and Lisa Rogers, who give their all for Recovery Ministries.
• Jeff's mother Jean has had repeated strokes.