James 1:16–21 ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. ¹⁹ My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Anger causes us to do things that are outside the life God would have us live. How often have you let your anger control your actions, only to regret it? Sometimes the harm done can be overcome. Other times we continue to let anger control our actions toward another person, escalating the conflict even further.

Years ago in a western city a husband and wife became estranged and parted from each other, both leaving the city where they had lived. They settled in different parts of the country. Some years later, the husband happened to return to the city on a matter of business. When he finished his business, he went to the cemetery where his only son was buried. As he was standing near the grave with his memories, he heard a step on the gravel behind him. Turning, he saw his estranged wife, who by coincidence had come out there that same day to visit the grave. For a moment the inclination of both of them was to turn away, but they thought better of it. Realizing that they had a common binding interest in that grave, instead of turning away they held hands over the dust of their little son and were reconciled to each other and restored their marriage.

It took nothing less that the death of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, to reconcile us to God. As we approach the tomb of Christ, we find that we are not alone. God the Father is there. Our first inclination may be to turn away, for we are sinners and He is a sinless God. But God came there for us. He takes our hand, draws us to Himself, and fills us with His good gifts. We need to be filled with what our heavenly Father has to give us. In Baptism, we have been immersed in the water of life. Through the Gospel, we participate in Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. In Communion we are filled with the life and salvation that Jesus earned for us. We have been reborn through the blood of the Lamb and are saturated with the righteousness of God. We get all of this from being in the Word, letting God speak to us and fill us and soak us through and through. What better thing is there for you to be full of than God’s Word, His righteousness and forgiveness? If that is what you, as a follower of Christ, have in you, what will come out when you are confronted with conflict and problems? That same Word of truth, the same righteousness, that same forgiveness. They are going to overflow if that is what you have been filled with.