Renewing Your Mind (Victory Series Book #4): Become More Like Christ by Neil T. Anderson

true goal of our lives: conforming to the image of God.
    When we think about conforming to God’s image, we usually do not think about taking on His righteous wrath. However, the Bible actually talks more about the wrath of God than it does about our wrath. God’s anger is not born out of His insecurity, and He doesn’t have blocked goals. His anger is a righteous indignation toward sin.
    Jesus’ cursing of the fig tree and cleansing the Temple illustrate His anger and judgment to come. Jesus didn’t get mad because the fig tree had no figs when He wanted some. At that time of the year, the fig tree should have had edible buds—but it did not, which indicated the tree was not going to bear any fruit. The cursing of the fig tree was a prophetic sign of God’s impending judgment on Israel, not an angry reaction because Jesus was hungry. The unproductive fig tree symbolized Israel’s spiritual barrenness despite their outward appearance of religious fervor.
    God’s anger is continuous, but His lovingkindness and mercy temper it. God is incredibly patient toward those who sin—we would be much swifter about judging others and forcing them to suffer the consequences. (Remember, Jesus turned over the table, not the moneychangers.) God has the perfect capacity to separate the sin from the sinner. If that were not so, we would all be doomed. We should have a sense of righteous indignation, but we need to learn from His example how to express it.
    Abraham Lincoln said, “To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.” Philipp Melanchthon, a contemporary of Martin Luther, said, “All that is needed for sin to abound is for good men to do nothing.” Righteous indignation moves us to correct that which is wrong. The heroes of our faith in Hebrews 11 could not sit by and watch the world go to hell. They had to do something, even if it cost them their lives—and it often did.
    If we are going to be salt and light in this fallen world, we need to speak the truth, but we need to do it in love. We must make a stand for righteousness, but we should silently stand by if we can’t do so without violating the fruit of the Spirit. To speak the truth without love would make us no different from those who represent the ideals we are standingagainst—and it would profit no one. Let the message spoken in love—not the messenger—be the offense.
    How can we be angry but not sin?
      
    Knowing that hope is the present assurance of some future good, why can we glory in our sufferings? How does that help us persevere?
      
    In Mark 11:12–25, why did Jesus curse the fig tree?
        
    Why do you suppose God created you to experience anger as an emotion?
      
    What righteous stand do you need to make at work, home, or in the world?
        
    Suffering is the measure of how much hope we have, and it testifies to the fact that we deserve the crown we shall inherit. This is why the Lord said, “Blessed are you when they persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you on account of God’s righteousness. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great.” For to despise present sufferings and hindrances, and for the hope of the future, not to give in to pressure has great merit with God.
    Ambrosiaster (written c. AD 366–384)
    Who Is Responsible for What?
    Paul said that God would strengthen and protect us from the evil one (see 2 Thessalonians 3:3). Then he continues by saying we ought to carry out our own responsibilities and not become idle. In God’s mind, there is a clear line between His sovereignty and our responsibility.
    God’s sovereignty | Our responsibility
    On the left side is what God and only God can do. If we try to usurp the role of God, we will invariably become frustrated and fail. We are not God. We can’t even save ourselves. We should not try to be someone else’s conscience, and we cannot change another person. Nothing will interfere with Christian relationships and