No Offense

James 1:19 NIV

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 

JAMES 1:19-20

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 

GODLY ANGER PROMPTS US TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP. HUMAN ANGERPROMPTS US TO DO SOMETHING THAT HURTS

DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A POINT?

              OR 

DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? 

Matthew 22:37-39 NIV

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 

HOW DO WE LET GO OF THAT ANGER? AND OVERCOME OFFENSES

1.     LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS

2 Timothy 3:2-4 NIV

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God 

LUKE 22:32 NLT

But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

2.     RAISE YOUR GRATITUDE FOR GOD'S GRACE 

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.