What's wrong can't be made right be policy changes and politics. It won't be fixed by religion or changing human attitudes and behavior. It won't be fixed by removing every weapon from the planet nor by arming every decent person on earth. There are no fixes within our ability. We can't change the world, not enough to save it. We can't change people or society. We can't even significantly change ourselves. But we can submit to the One who can change us.
Even if we can't fix it, knowing something is wrong is important. It matters. Knowing something is wrong is the same as knowing that what is right is missing. And knowing that can cause a yearning for what is missing, the rightness in life and living. The search for rightness is the beginning of the process of being made right. Jesus promised if we seek Him we'll find Him, and He is both the rightness and the One who can and will make all things new and right.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
- Romans 8:20-23
There are so many things that annoy us and anger us and can make our lives miserable. You know that idiot who won't hang up and drive? That person's the worst right? Unless it's us. We all know that we're the exceptions that can talk and drive just fine thank you very much. And that constant pain because the body is breaking down? Yes, that can be so frustrating and discouraging. Suicide bombers. Surely everyone can understand having a righteous anger toward suicide bombers and those who encourage, support and protect them. These are just a few examples. There are hundreds of thousands of things from tiny to great that tick us off and keep our anger stirred. Turn your phone off at the movies already! And what is really making us angry is an understanding within the core of who we are that knows this isn't right, it isn't the way it's supposed to be. It wasn't meant to be this way. It's the feeling Dante had when he repeatedly groaned throughout Clerks that, I'm not even supposed to be here!
But the frustration and anger does no good if we try to harness it as fuel for our life or if we let it push us in an attempt to fix or control anyone or anything other than us. What it should do is drive us to our knees. Everything we encounter in this messed up world can be made by the One who came to bring good news to those who need it and healing to the broken and freedom to the captive. The One who makes all things new. A righteous anger is one that groans for wrong to be made right, but ignites a passion for the coming of the One who can do that. It's not our job to make things right. We can't. It's not our job to fix it or control it. If anger inspires us to "do something about the situation," it's no longer a righteous anger, no matter how unrighteous the wrong that sparked it.
Righteous anger sets a fire withing us to serve and to intercede on behalf of the helpless, the broken and the captive. Righteous anger is one that sees the wrong and takes it to God. Who sees the evil under and causing the wrong. It's easier to want to kill sex traffickers than to pray for them to be healed and set free. It makes sense to want to kill our enemies. They can't kill us if they're dead. But God longs for the restoration of our enemies as much as He does for our own. Let anger drive us to our knees on behalf of what is right in prayer for the broken and the captive and the helpless victims and victimizers rather than throw stones.
Even the greatest evil of all, the evil of death, will be eradicated and made right. At the moment death effects everything and everyone, sooner or later. Grief is a common source of anger. But grief can cause us to remember that confidence that things will be made right because of one time when death was used for good. Jesus died to defeat death. There is little that truly brings loss, sorrow and anger into our lives more than death and fear of death. It's is the ultimate root of what is wrong with creation and us. But there is an answer. There is One who can make it right. The creation will have its day. It will be made new and right, regardless. But we have a choice. Today if we are sick and tired of what is wrong with us and with the world, let it inspire us to surrender rather than fight. It is in surrender that we find freedom from wrong and the promise of rightness.
Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.
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