Message Minute (Anger That Builds Up)

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." - Ephesians 4:29

Jesus got angry—sometimes even violently, like when He drove moneychangers from the temple with whips. But His anger was always redemptive, not vindictive. It was directed toward the problem, not the person. That's the kind of anger God calls us to.

Loving anger seeks to build up, never to get back or get even. The desire is for the sinner to repent and receive grace. Hatred for the sin flows from overwhelming love for the sinner. Think about it this way: we've all been doing this with ourselves for years. You can hate your own cowardice, greed, or pride while still loving yourself. Jesus calls us to extend that same grace to others.

This means when confronting wrong, the goal is restoration, not destruction. When Jesus said "turn the other cheek," He wasn't advocating passivity. He was calling for active engagement that confronts evil while pursuing reconciliation. Turning the other cheek is an invitation to fellowship, not an execution of vengeance.

Your goal as a Christ-follower is redemption. When you must address wrong, do it with the aim of drawing the person close, not pushing them away.

Reflect: When you've been angry recently, was your goal to restore or to punish? How can you pursue redemptive conversation this week?

Prayer: Jesus, teach me to be angry like You—with love that seeks restoration. Help my words build up rather than tear down. Make me a peacemaker. Amen.