A boy is throwing a temper tantrum; he pounds his fists on the floor, kicks his legs and screams. The child is ‘acting out’ (his anger for not getting his own way). Young or old, we are known by our actions.

“Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:12 HCSB).”

The differences between good and evil are easy to see; bad behavior reveals a serious heart condition.

“Then He said, ‘What comes out of a person—that defiles him.  For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, promiscuity, stinginess, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person (Mark 7:20-23 HCSB).”

I regress; I go back to the story about the little boy throwing a temper tantrum. Do I ever lose my temper?

“A hot-tempered man stirs up conflict,
but a man slow to anger calms strife (Proverbs 15:18 HCSB).”

I have a choice between conflict and remaining calm.

“Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19b HCSB).”

Published articles in Mature Living Magazine, Devotions for the Deaf, The Secret Place, Coosa Journal, Mary Hollingsworth's The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter, Jo Krueger's Every Day in God's Word. http://www.pamforddavis.com
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