Why do we respond agrily when corrected?

July 15, 2012

Proverbs 15:1   “A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.”

            I have heard this quote a hundred times, but as I asked the Lord for insight this morning a new response came to me. Wrath and anger are synonymous to each other and both mean hurt - based retaliation. I checked on 25 occasions of anger in the Old Testament (excluding the anger of God) and found that 25 of 25 cases show the response to some one being corrected.

            Jesus advises us in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) that meekness is not a weakness but standing up with a silent witness. Mahatma Gandhi won India’s rights by passive resistance. Martin Luther King won black equality by passive resistance and not being moved. In this verse we see what they saw. To destroy anger and vengeance stand up for what you believe and quietly, no shame, state your position.

Lord, we love you today and realize how far your creation has gone from your intention. We know that rape, murder, lies, and stealing were not your design for our lifestyle. We also know the Savior You sent for our salvation and earnestly pray that we can meekly--with strength – speak up for Your position on how far we have slid then. For your service we live.        Amen