The Trap

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”

Recently I was driving somewhere and got started much later than I had planned so I was driving in the dark. The rain poured slowing me down further. I arrived at the hotel only to find it a dangerous, disaster zone of construction. The parking lot was full of construction materials, water was all over the hotel floors, the walls were unfinished down the hallway. The end of this day was a disappointment, but little did I know how the next day would continue.

The following morning I could not keep up my workout routine because the facilities hadn’t opened yet. I went to lunch and the food was overpriced and very poor quality. These minor irritations were all stacking up inside me. Then at dinner I became the object of someone’s direct rudeness. Anger welled up within me ready to snap back, but I didn’t. I stewed over what they had said and how rude it was. I was ready to point the finger, but then I saw how a trap had been set before me and I was about to fall into it. Would I not have been justified in lashing out at someone for being unkind? Would I not have been justified in announcing their fault to everyone around me? But how would that have encouraged others to love Christ as I do?

I began to contemplate how many times in the past I had been rude or unkind to other people. I have sought the Lord’s forgiveness and mercy for all of my past sins, so should I not be ready and willing to show love to someone who does me wrong? Have I not wronged other people too?

When I think about my Savior, He bore abuse, rudeness, ridicule, and mocking with humility despite being sinless Himself. He would have had every justifiable reason to lash out and point the finger, but instead He showed mercy time and time again.

I must aim to remember that every person I encounter is someone God intended me to interact with. Every friend, every foe, every colleague, every small interaction with a stranger, these are all opportunities for me to show the love of Christ. May the Lord have mercy.