By Odon Bulamba (Friday 27th May 2005)
He was given that name and was praised by his father as a young lion because of only one good action he did. In Genesis 38: 24-26, he went with Tamar, sinned and condemned her. But thanks to the signet ring, cords and staff she had kept from her father in law, she was spared and Judah recognised Tamar was more righteous than him. He recognised his weakness and inability to deal with the Word of God. He felt guilty, ‘I’m the one supposed to know the law, called to practise it but I don’t, I am wrong’.
Today in the church when people face a similar situation, when they are told their mistakes, instead of recognising their weakness they justify themselves. “What did I do wrong? It’s not me, it’s that person.” I know some people who get angry when others tell them their mistakes, they don’t want to listen: “This is my life. Don’t worry about me. Leave me alone.” To protect themselves, they raise up their voice, they bring up more justification. God is against that.
1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
For God, it’s not an issue but just a matter to say: I was wrong, God forgive me.
If you have a problem with Peter, go first to him and fix your problem with him, then go to God. Don’t go straight to God.
Here Judah was in front of that lady and knew he was wrong, he condemned himself, he repented and that’s why he was chosen.
WHERE ARE WE AMONG THESE FOUR SONS?
(Reuben, Simeon, Levi & Judah)
What is our position, where am I, where are you, where is the church? Let’s compare these pictures with the church.
Can you see Reuben’s picture in the church today? Idolatry in the church, for example people adore the pastor or materialism …
Have you ever seen a pastor repenting?
Once....this is sad because by doing it he would also teach others and the young ones to do the same. Pastors who want to be clever often kneel down and ask for repentance.
Can you project Simeon’s picture in the church?
People gossip in the church and we all practise anger.
SOLUTION TO OVERCOME ANGER IN ALL SITUATIONS
Yes, there is a solution; repent as soon as possible. Say you are in the wrong and repent. It’s the only solution. If you keep practising that, Satan will be a bit deceived, he’ll try to push you. If you react or get angry, the only solution is to say sorry straight away. Anger comes slowly by your way of thinking, of speaking and whenever you feel it, just stop it.
Angry people will never inherit the Kingdom of God. If anger wasn’t a sin, why would the Bible warn us about not entering the Kingdom of God? When you fall in anger you hate (1 John 2:9). Anger is just another branch of hatred. We are not angry because we don’t like people but because of their actions. They make us angry, our way of talking changes and starts showing hatred. Anger doesn’t come by itself, it’s linked to hatred and we end up saying that people are not good because of their actions. Better to protect yourself from anger.
Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry but do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger", this verse doesn’t say: ‘through your anger, don’t sin.”
If you wait for the sun to go down you might die in the meantime. So just repent and be sinless.
This verse comes from Psalm 4:4.
If anger comes, you’ll feel it coming out of your heart, control it. If you say no to anger, it’s no.
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