In your anger do not sin. Ephesians 4:26.

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ. Colossians 2:2.

I loved this this morning in My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers: “Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell – it is redemption. The need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker today. As workers, we have to get used to the revelation that redemption is the only reality. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption, not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under when testing comes. Paul did not say that he separated himself, but “when it pleased God, who separated me” (Galatians 1:15). Paul was not overly interested in his own character. And as long as our eyes are focused on our own personal holiness, we will never even get close to the full reality of redemption. Christian workers fail because they place their desire for their own holiness above their desire to know God. “Don’t ask me to be confronted with the strong reality of redemption on behalf of the filth of human life surrounding me today; what I want is anything God can do for me to make me more desirable in my own eyes.” To talk that way is a sign that the reality of the gospel of God has not begun to touch me. There is no reckless abandon to God in that. God cannot deliver me while my interest is merely in my own character. Paul was not conscious of himself. He was recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered, and separated by God for one purpose – to proclaim the gospel of God (see Romans 9:3).”

Living in this world today we must see or we will be forced to see at some needed point, that we are utterly powerless. I can’t change one thing in this world of ours. Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, can – and He is bringing change in individual hearts of people who are not human filth but who, just like me, are all too human. We try to live in a denial that refuses to see. And in our chapter, Ezekiel 9, God takes control. Then I heard Him call out in a loud voice, “Bring near those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.” And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar. Now the glory of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.” As I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple. Then He said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city. While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown, crying out, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! Are You going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?” He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice. They say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’ So I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.” Then the man in linen with the writing kit at his side brought back word, saying, “I have done as You commanded.” v. 1-11.

In your anger do not sin…That is God speaking directly to me and you. It’s so easy to become angry at what we perceive is injustice and easier still to then condemn. And in condemning we hate. God is not wrong when He says our land is full of bloodshed and injustice. So He speaks to individual hearts and tells us in our anger, do not sin. So what do we do today and tomorrow and an unknown future? Trust Almighty, Sovereign, Creator God. Trust Him for the work He is doing that is so needed for each of us. Let Him correct our hearts and minds. And when you do, you will experience a deep hunger for Him. You and I are powerless. Creator God is not. And He is doing a good work in individual human beings who by this world’s standards are filth. Jesus, The Son, welcomed into His presence the “filth” of that time and brought a healing only He could bring to those who were willing. Are we willing? Never forget…Jesus, the Son, ushered in the kingdom of God and upended everything! And He did it for our good and in the Father’s love for us, His children. Creator God’s healing love brings redemption and He is always working!