No grudges after sunset

No grudges after sunset

Bible: Psalm 4:1-5

Reading

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry (EPHESIANS 4:26).

A boy got into a fight with his brother. The whole thing left him in a bad mood. When his brother wanted to make things right, he didn’t listen. In fact, he wouldn’t speak to his brother all day. Bedtime came, and their mum said to the boy, “Don’t you think you should forgive your brother before you go to sleep? Remember, the Bible says, ‘Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry’ ” (EPHESIANS 4:26). The boy looked confused. He thought for a few moments and then asked, “But how can I keep the sun from going down?” He reminds me of us. Sometimes we get angry at people and hold grudges. We know we should forgive people and make things right—but we just don’t want to. So we bury our feelings down really deep and ignore what the Bible says. Sure, we can’t change how another person feels or what they do, but we can pay attention to our own attitude towards them. The Bible says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (EPHESIANS 4:32). We must do our bit; we can at least offer to start over, even if they then say no. No, we can’t keep the sun from going down. But we can keep it from setting on our anger. And that means we must be ready to forgive and do our best to work things out with each other.

FOR EVERY MINUTE YOU ARE ANGRY,
YOU LOSE SIXTY SECONDS OF HAPPINESS.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries