There is an Exalted One (and its not me)

I read this quote today:

"When we genuinely believe that inner transformation is God's work and not ours, we can put to rest our passion to set others straight."

Setting others straight - boy do I love to do this. Now most of the time I just do it in my mind. Someone does something that I find offensive and something in my brain goes off like fireworks. I go over and over in my head why that person is wrong and what I would say to them that would be more powerful than a slap across the head. Its not pretty... this inner rage that comes over me when I want to set someone straight. Then after a period of stirring in the juices of my self righteous anger I begin to get this ridiculous idea that its me and God vs. the culprit (whomever that person is at the time). "What are we going to do with them, God?" I subconsciously think. "Please help me, Lord, put up with their absurdity."

However, in the past few days, God has been doing something "not very nice" to me. He's been showing me that I have the exact same faults as the ones I am so angry with in others. It sort of, in a small way, (sarcasm!!) reminds me of that verse: "Judge and you shall be judged." Mt. 7:2 How could I be so blind? How God must roll His eyes at MY absurdity!! Me and God against them?? I am surprised he hasn't slapped me across the head!!

So today I brought to God my habitual anger, my immediate response of rage when I am offended. "What do I do with this God?" This corrupt flesh that has me enslaved? And as I mopped the floor, I waited for Him and He spoke: "Separate the situation from the person." The situation upset me, the situation disappoints me, the situation causes my life to be more difficult, but the person....well that person belongs to God. That person, God made in His image and either longs to call His own or has already redeemed and anointed to be a part of the kingdom of righteousness. If He, the Perfect One, calls that person holy, anointed, and royal (1 Peter 2:9) - who am I to hold a grudge and judge deserving of God's hand of discipline?

There is something that God has shown me in the past that I believe will help me in this situation, and that is that emotions can lie. I can feel intense anger at someone, yet I can call it what it is: a lie from the father of lies. The truth is that God is a God of mercy and none of us deserve His kindness and redemption. I will take revenge....on MY disobedience. Last of all, I will trust God to take care of any and every situation that causes me pain or difficulty. I said above that God did something not nice to me, but in fact, He did something so very loving and wonderful. I read one time (possibly from Charles Sheldon- can't remember for sure) that the most un-kind thing God can do, is to leave us be. I am so grateful He doesn't leave me be, but that He convicts and restores and best of all....always loves.

Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. -2 Corinthians 10:5-6