When Anger Changes Nothing Change The Anger

Luke 4:27-28
(27) And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”
(28) All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.

Jesus was at the Synagogue for Sabbath worship as His custom of keeping the Sabbath was, Luke 4:16. It was a custom. It is something He always did and He was known for. Do you have a custom of keeping the Sabbath that Jesus kept? If that was Jesus’ custom, what is your custom?

While at worship, Jesus was invited to be the preacher of the day, Luke 4:17. He read from the book of Isaiah 61:1-2. After the reading of the scripture, He went ahead to expound the word, explain the meaning, to preach the message. The listeners were so impressed and started wondering why He was so good yet He was an ordinary guy they knew, Luke 4:22. There are people who will never let you grow beyond what they have always known about you. They knew Jesus as the son of Joseph, but they refused to go beyond that point and see Him as the Messiah.

Those who have known you as a shopkeeper may never accept a shift you make into political leadership. They will keep referring to you as a shopkeeper. Those who have known you are most likely the reason why you can’t make progress because they have refused to move on as you move on. That is why Jesus said, a prophet may be praised everywhere except at home, Luke 4:24, this is because the people at home are stuck in your past. It may be advisable to move away from them and take a forced growth. Could there be someone or some people who you have refused to see as having outgrown your past knowledge of them? Isn’t it honorable to set them free and let them grow?

Jesus addressed their prejudice which was based on having known Him in the past. Jesus told them that this prejudice is the reason why Elijah left all widows in Israel and went to the widow at Zarephath, Luke 4: 25-26. Your best sons and daughters may leave and go far from home and be a blessing to others because your prejudice has sent them away. You will lack what they offer but others will benefit, because of prejudice. Prejudice against Elijah made all widows in Israel bypassed and the widow in Zarephath blessed with endless food amidst hunger. What has prejudice denied you?

Jesus went ahead to tell them that it was prejudice that caused lepers in Israel to continue suffering from leprosy, yet a foreigner Naaman from Syria got healed, Luke 4:27. Israelites had refused to see Elisha as a prophet. Probably they still had memories of Elijah. Probably they still had memories of Elisha as a farmer. They refused to realize that Elisha had outgrown their past of knowledge of him. They refused to acknowledge that the old simple Elisha was now a mighty prophet of God. That is why they preferred being leprous to seek help from Elisha. When Naaman came he was healed, as Israelite Lepers continued suffering. All these are a result of prejudice. Could you be lacking something because of prejudice?

The words Jesus were a bitter truth. The listeners got so angry and they tried killing Jesus by throwing Him over a cliff, but Jesus walked away unharmed, Luke 4:28-30. The listeners reacted to the word of God in anger. Even if everyone gets angry, the truth remains to be the truth. No amount of anger can change the truth. When anger changes nothing, change that anger into acceptance of the truth!

Has the word of God offended you? Are you angry at what has been preached, taught, and said? Ask yourself if anger can change the truth. When anger changes nothing, change that anger into acceptance of the truth!

Are you in trouble? Did you mess up? Has the truth come out that you messed up? Don’t get angry at anyone or anything. No amount of anger will change the truth that you messed up. Accept the truth and reform. When anger changes nothing, change that anger into acceptance of the truth!

Dear God, save me from prejudice and those who have a prejudice against me. Empower me to relate well with the truth without anger issues. May I always accept the truth and move on as guided by You, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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