Daily Devotional

If you were a comic book character, what would your power be? Notice that I didn’t ask if you were a “superhero”. “Why the distinction,” you might ask. Well, villains have superpowers as well. And having superpowers in the comics doesn't automatically rid the world of evil. Supervillains typically react in anger and their powers wreak havoc. We too at times when we are angry at injustice, naturally react. But when we do it is often with supervillain levels of damage ensuing in the process. Yet in Scripture, we see Jesus showing us how to respond in helpful ways rather than react in hurtful ways.
 
In today’s passage, we see that Jesus got angry. We read that in the place built for worship, Jesus sees religious leaders taking advantage of the poor. There have been monetary barriers put up between God and His people. This exploitation was not ok with Jesus, but instead of reacting without thinking, Jesus connected His logic and emotions to a response that was undeniably disruptive but in a way that helped address the injustice that made Him angry. Jesus had “justified anger” that moved him to restore relationships with God and others.
 
I’d argue that we should get angry at the unjust hurt and pain that we see in the world. The response should ultimately be our desire to partner with God to become a people who see as Amos says, “justice roll down like water, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24). Today, I’d challenge us to respond rather than react in anger and allow anger to act like fuel that brings about God's justice. Remembering when we're angry, Jesus shows us how to respond.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.