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.
Welcome!
Isn't it true that all of us are "Walking It Out" day by day with the Lord? We are in this journey together—perhaps in different stages and circumstances, but certainly not alone. Let us help each other by lifting one another up and being encouraged to continue on this marvelous journey. In the end, this journey will lead us to the face of God.
"Walking It Out" is a Sunday school class offered at Praise Assembly in Springfield, Missouri, and taught by Doug and Nancy Thomas. We are glad you came to visit us here at this site and hope that you find something helpful in your own faith as you are "Walking It Out."
"Walking It Out" is a Sunday school class offered at Praise Assembly in Springfield, Missouri, and taught by Doug and Nancy Thomas. We are glad you came to visit us here at this site and hope that you find something helpful in your own faith as you are "Walking It Out."
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