Ephesians 4:26-31
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“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
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and do not give the devil a foothold.
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Anyone who has been stealing must steal
no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands,
that they may have something to share with those in need.
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Do not let any unwholesome talk come out
of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up
according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
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And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
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Get rid of all bitterness, rage and
anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Anger Expression
This New Testament Bible passage provides specific "do not" guidance for anger behavior choices that Christians may want to heed. Note the emphasis on "do not sin" as a result of anger that implies your ability to control how you express this emotion. Also important here is the immediacy of the anger expression. We don't want to wait to express anger effectively so action is needed to prevent suppression and resentment that can occur over time.
Energy and Choice
This Ephesians passage on usefulness of anger energy that can be directed toward helping others versus sinful actions that involve sin such as stealing and saying negative things. We can interpret this constructively for using our bodies in positive ways to express anger and use the energy that is a gift - if used wisely.
Our Desire to Please God
The reminder of our redemption and our need to live without holding onto
the negative effects of suppressed anger is encouraging. This Ephesians passage helps us to see that we can
orient ourselves toward processing anger in a way that will please God
and not grieve the Holy Spirit. When we are able to work through anger to reach change and resolution we can "let go" of that emotion quickly and permanently in alignment with this important message.