Rage!

Today we are thinking about things said and done in the heat of the moment.  God has been showing me recently an important way in which the lives of born-again Christians and the lives of unbelievers are different.  You notice that there have been decisive moments in people’s lives which have had lasting impact but they were moments of error!  But for the Christian those moments are very few or none.

1 Samuel 25:2-42.  Please read this passage before proceeding with this devotion.

In the passage we see that David was enraged by Nabal’s words and about to kill him and his men.  If he had it is unlikely he would have married Abigail.  But God guided Abigail to calm David down.  She was intelligent, brave and humble and God had planned that she should marry David.  If David had continued in his rage he would have missed God’s plan and never married Abigail and had a son with her.  She was very intelligent, surely after they married she became a good friend and guide for David.

So after listening to Abigail David stopped himself from doing something he would regret.  God has a plan for each of our lives but we can drop off that plan by making rash decisions.  As I was growing in understanding of this I had my own perfect example.

As many of you have heard me say, I work with a local pastor, Shadrach.  During this time of churches closed I have been joining a local church from the UK which I know very well via the Zoom app.  These Sunday morning times have become precious to me and the worship in-particular is really wonderful.  We don’t have much deep worship at the local church in Kigumba I normally attend.  The ‘network’ is very poor where I live so I have been going to my office each Sunday.  I asked Shadrach to let me have that time on my own during the meeting and he agreed.  The next Sunday I arrived at the office and there was Shadrach sitting in the office, the ‘red mist’ descended on me and I shouted at him!  Then I angrily jumped back in my car to find somewhere else I could go (I should have just waited for Shadrach to leave!).

My rage turned to wrath as I started to scheme how I was going to punish Shadrach because ‘he was in the wrong and I was in the right’. But praise God within a couple of hours I had started to calm down and it was because of God in my life.  I knew I was wrong to be thinking like that even though I felt hurt.  Without God I would have said something to Shadrach which could have had negative consequences.  He could have easily left the ministry we have together to the children even though God has many more things he wants to do through the both of us.  Shadrach and I minister together very effectively for God’s kingdom.  I could have easily messed things up!

You often hear how people have acted rashly in the past and, for example, and ‘they don’t speak to their brother any more’ or a son or daughter leaves home in anger and hasn’t contacted their parents for years.  People make rash decisions and the effects can be lasting and damaging.  Is God speaking to you right now about a relationship you need to restore?  Someone you need to contact and apologise?  Ask God to help you.

‘Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.’

Proverbs 21:23

Times of extreme negative emotion can be opportunities for demons to get a grasp in our lives.  Do you need to repent to God for anything you have said or done in anger?  In fact, we should repent for anything we have ever said or done that was wrong, it is worthwhile spending some time in prayer letting the Holy Spirit remind you of anytime when you acted wrongly and need to repent.  Hallelujah.  Jesus said, ‘And when you stand praying, if you have ANYTHING against ANYONE (that includes the past), forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.’ Mark 11:25

So next time you are feeling really upset; keep your mouth shut, think of God-who He is and what He has done in your life, and that you want to keep in His plans for your life-and don’t mess things up!

God bless you.

Questions

1.     I recently heard of a man who met his personal angel and the angel had list of the things God had planned for his life.  What events in your life which you have experienced have specifically been on God’s agenda for your life?

2.     Share a time when you did or you nearly made a rash decision which had/would have had bad consequences.

3.     ‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.’ Ephesians 2:10. Give God some praise and then out loud together or on your own recommit your life to be in God’s will and to carry out the ‘good works’ He prepared for your life.

Prayers

·      Keep praying for Uganda and that Covid-19 dies away.  Pray for those leaders making decisions for Uganda in regard of the virus.

·      Pray for those from your church who are feeling lonely and down.  Pray for those who are ill.

·      Pray for boldness for believers in Uganda to share the gospel.  Pray the Holy Spirit freely moves in this nation saving those in the villages and in Muslim communities who never hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In these last days the Hoy Spirit is being POURED OUT!  Hallelujah!  Acts2:17

Hugh Pilcher