Sun, 26 May 2019
A lawyer was talking with a woman who had just lost her husband. He said to her, “Your husband did not leave a will, so we need to know the last words he ever said to you.”
She replied, “I don't want to tell you.”
The attorney said, “I am sorry for your loss, but he did not leave a will. We need to know his final words.”
But the woman refused. “I don't want to tell you,” she said. “It was something between the two of us.”
The attorney decided to try one last time. “Please, ma’am. Won’t you tell me your husband’s last words?”
Finally, the woman relented. “Okay, I'll tell you. The last thing he ever said to me was, ‘You don't scare me, woman. You couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with that old gun.’”
Yikes!
I trust that our relationships with others would never disintegrate to the point where we would actually shoot someone! But, as Jesus points out in the Sermon on the Mount, uncontrolled anger is just as deadly (and sinful) a force. We will take a look this Sunday at the danger of anger and how to be reconciled both with one another and God.
Culture Flip “Anger” Matthew 5:21-26
You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment”(5:21).
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, “You fool!” will be liable to the hell of fire(5:22).
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly(5:23-25a).
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