“Anger Management” (Mark 11:12-19)
Read the following Scripture: Mark 11: 12-19
Question of the Day: Do you allow your anger to take control of your actions when you get frustrated?
Devotion: Do you think it irritated Jesus to know that he had come to Jerusalem to die for the sins of the world and there were those who were trying to take advantage of people and make money the wrong way? This is one of the only instances in the gospels where Jesus shows his anger. He was mad that these merchants and money changers would take advantage of the non-Jews during the Passover. The merchants and money changers were trying to make a profit on the people by raising prices on animals for sacrifice and blocking the temple of worship for the Gentiles. So Jesus had to come in and remedy the situation…only six days before he had to give his life.
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt frustrated because someone else just didn’t “get it”? How did you respond? It’s important to note in this passage that although Jesus got angry, he did not sin. Does your anger lead you to sin?
What do you do to control your anger? Does it work?
Have you ever gotten mad or frustrated over the actions of others? What was your response?
Prayer: Father, give me the patience I need to deal with frustration. Even though I know I will become angry, help me to control my anger so that it does not lead to sin. Amen.
Practice: Think about a situation that has angered you or frustrated you in the last week. Was there a particular person involved? If so, write a letter to that person expressing how you felt and the reasons for those feelings. If there was no particular person, write the letter to yourself. You can address your feelings about the situation and how you can handle that situation better next time.
Song: The Slam- T-Bone/TobyMac
