Anger isn't always sinful, but it can easily get out of control. When anger shows up, we should ask ourselves, "Is it right to be angry?" Sometimes the answer is "yes." Often, anger is reckless, but it can also be like Elijah's fire from heaven. Being angry at sin honors God because of the wrong it does against Him. We should be angry at ourselves for remaining foolish despite all God's teaching, or at others when our anger comes from confronting evil. If we're not angry at sin, we become part of it. Sin is disgusting, and no renewed heart should tolerate it.

God is angry with the wicked every day, and His Word tells us, "You that love the Lord, hate evil." More often, though, our anger is not admirable. We should ask ourselves if anger at children, servants, or companions says anything good about our faith or glorifies God. It's often just our old sinful nature rising up, which we need to resist with our new nature. Many believers let temper rule them, thinking resistance is pointless. But remember, believers must conquer even this, or they won't be crowned.

If we can’t control our tempers, what has grace accomplished in us? Someone once told Mr. Jay that grace was often grafted on a crab-stump. He replied, "Yes, but the fruit won’t be crabs." We can't use our nature as an excuse for sin. We must go to the cross, asking the Lord to crucify our temper and renew us in gentleness and meekness like His image.