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Bible Reading Plan

Reading Plan: Ephesians 4:25-32

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”^[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ 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.

²⁹ 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. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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Daily Devotional: Sticks and Stones

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 

Matthew 5:21-22

When most of us hear the commandment “Thou shall not murder,” we feel distant from this concept. It would be hard to imagine being so angry with someone that we would want to take their life. Then, as life happens, this concept can shift from distant to uncomfortably close. 

As a young girl in school, another student called me a name during recess that was meant to hurt me. I don’t remember what they called me, but I remember how I felt. Embarrassed, ashamed, and angry. When I went home and told my mom, she taught me the old rhyme you may remember: I’m rubber, and you’re glue— whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you. At the time, it was helpful to imagine the words bouncing off of me and going back where they belonged, to the person who spoke them. Their words didn’t belong to me. I could choose not to absorb what was thrown at me. 

Years later, I realized how hard that lesson becomes in adulthood.

I will admit, I have “seen red” a few times in my life. I thought it was just an expression until it happened. My body flooded. My thoughts narrowed. I understood, in a frightening way, what Jesus meant by a murderous heart. Not because I wanted to harm someone, but because anger stripped away their humanity—and my own. 

One way we can care for ourselves in anger is by choosing a posture of love, not passivity, with intention. I can slow my breathing, and I can pause before reacting. I can remind myself that I control my response, even when I cannot control the situation. Like the childhood rhyme, I can decide what sticks and what doesn’t. This helps me center myself and find a little peace in the midst of chaos. From here, I can take a balcony view of the situation and decide, more clearly, how to react and what the end goal is. The end goal is not winning; it is resolution. It is dignity for all parties involved. It is peace.

Next Steps

When anger rises, what posture do you tend to take? What would it look like to choose love before your words choose for you? Spend time in prayer asking God for wisdom and restraint when anger finds you.