Wrath: March 26, 2013

Today's Word for Tuesday March 26, 2013

WRATH

DEFINITION:

Strong, stern or fierce anger; rage; vengeance; deeply resentful; punishment; extreme displeasure.

SCRIPTURE:

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Psalm 37:8.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

John the Baptist used the word "wrath" in Matthew 3:7 when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to see him as he was preaching and baptizing. John the Baptist called them a "generation of vipers" and asked them "who warned them to flee from the wrath to come?"

What is the "wrath to come" that John the Baptist was talking about?  It is the wrath of God against sin.  The wrath of God is seldom talked about in the church today.  People like their concept of God to be a God of love, kindness, and peace.

The question is often asked by non-believers how a God that is holy can get angry and still be holy.   It is God's holiness that requires that He be a God of wrath.  God cannot tolerate sin and be holy.   God hates sin and therefore must condemn it and judge it.  It is because God is a God of love that He provided a way of escape from the wrath of His judgment through His gift of salvation that He provided through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross for the sins of everyone.  It is because He is a God of love and kindness that He is so patient with the ungodly and the wicked and gives them every opportunity to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

The words in John 3:36 gives us a little insight into what is the reality of God's wrath. In this passage the writer, John  tells us that all who do not believe on the Son of God will experience the wrath of God and not only not spend eternity with God but will spend eternity in hell.

The Bible also speaks of human wrath.  Our wrath differs from God's wrath.  Our wrath tends to be vindictive.  When we get disturbed at someone or something, normally we react with wrath and not kindness and love. God's wrath is untainted and tempered by mercy. We have heard many people say that life is not fair and, indeed, it is not. Any theory that insists that life is fair is really deceptive.

We have mentioned several times in prior devotionals about David and the struggles that he had in his young life running from the wrath of King Saul. He would be the first to tell you that for him life was not fair. He had to live in caves and run from Saul’s people who wanted to kill him. He had reason to be angry, yet he was able to advise us to cease from anger and forsake wrath (Psalm 37:8). He always survived despite his own sins and mistakes, because of his faith in God.

David, in Psalm 37 prays that he will not retaliate against those that have been unfair to him but that he will rest in the Lord and wait patiently for God to bring justice to the earth in due time. In Psalm 37: 9 it reads that those who wait upon the Lord will inherit the earth.  David had to learn to patiently wait upon the Lord.

In Ephesians 6:4 we have another reminder of the word wrath. This reminder is that as fathers and parents we are not to provoke our children to wrath. Very simply said, the lack of love, uncontrolled anger and constant harassment in the home will provoke children to wrath.

We must not then avenge ourselves because, as the scripture says in Romans 12:19, 21, "For it is written, vengeance is mine, and I will repay, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

The key is what we feel in our heart. May we cease from anger in our lives, forsake wrath at all costs, and wait patiently on the Lord. Someone once said: Revenge restrained is a victory gained. This is easy to say but difficult to do. May we urge you today that when you get angry do not make retaliation an option for your response but turn the other cheek and smile and be kind. Then see what God will do for you.

LEARNING

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 27:1.

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

PRAYER

Give me the courage and strength today, Lord, to be an example to my family and friends by showing them a loving heart. Give me an opportunity to share with someone the importance of eliminating anger in our lives. May each person that I meet today realize that if they do not accept You as their Savior that they will receive the wrath of God and will spend an eternity in hell.