But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22–23, ESV
It is hard to give up anger when something unjust happens. It is hard to let go of anger when a person gets away with something that you know is wrong, and even when the wrong is addressed, nothing happens. Yet, our Lord calls us to be different. Holding anger and seeking to make right a wrong is exhausting and is a joy-robbing way of life. Yet, how many of us get caught up in the trap of being offended and upset at all the wrongs we see in our world? Paul saw this and the reality is that injustice is not something new. God calls us to be different. The wrongs we see in the world are not made right by our anger. As we lay these things at the foot of our Lord and focus instead on serving our Creator by carrying out His Word and serving His creation, we can bring comfort to those affected by injustice. We can be a positive light to those engaged in the things that are not within God’s will, and we can stand justified in our words and actions as we faithfully live out and proclaim the glory of our Lord. Jesus was thoughtful in His words and was direct when necessary, but He only spoke what was necessary and could be of help to cause another to repent. We are called to act in a similar way. Jesus never cursed His abusers, neither did Paul, and we have no record of any of the other Apostles screaming out curses and condemnation, but what they did always proclaim was the glory of God and salvation through Jesus Christ.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.