Wrestling Crocs!

Did you ever watched the show "Crocodile Hunter?" It is about this very odd fellow from Australia who wrestles dangerous animals; he gets up close and personal with alligators, crocs and extremely poisonous snakes. I do not advocate anyone picking up man eating animals or anything that can bite you and kill you within two steps - but there is something about what the "Croc Hunter" does.

Many times, he takes these animals captive so they cannot harm anyone?

It got me to thinking - that is what we are supposed to do as Christians -

Paul says it in 2 Corinthians 10:5

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?"

As Christians you are to look into your own life and wrestle with those things that poison who you are, to take captive those man-eating creatures that can turn on you and eat away at your life.

What are the alligators, crocs, and snakes that we wrestle with, ones that we are called to take captive?

Well they are things like - Envy - Jealousy - Anger - Pride - Arrogance - Revenge - Impatience - Rudeness ? Can you think of any others?

There is a reason that we are supposed to "capture those thoughts" - Jesus said it in Matthew 21-22 and 27-29 - that is, the thought that we harbor in our secret lives will turn into the dangerous animal that will poison us, attack us spiritually and then manifest itself in our actions and try to attack those around us?
Proverbs 4:23 tells us that we are to - "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flows the springs of life."

Max Lucado wrote a wonderful note about this -

Today's thoughts are tomorrow's actions -
Today's jealousy is tomorrow's temper tantrum -
Today's bigotry is tomorrow's hate crime -
Today's anger is tomorrow's abuse -
Today's lust in tomorrow's adultery -
Today's greed is tomorrow's embezzlement -
Today's guilt is tomorrow's fear

When I was growing up we didn't have a Crocodile Hunter - we had Marlin Perkins and his buddy Jim on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.

Unfortunately too many of us are like Marlin - we know that the animal has to be captured but we sit in the back of the truck or in the helicopter and watch as someone else (Jim) wrestles with it? 

For some reason we are too afraid to wrestle our own beasts and take them captive because we know that there is a danger involved? Oh, we do good at describing someone else doing it, and we are even better at giving someone else advice on how to do it.

But the bible tells us how we can capture those things and the "what" to replace them with -
Paul says it in Philippians 4:8
 "And now, brothers, as I close this letter let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about." (Living Bible)

And Paul gave us the reason for it - that as Christians we live under the law of Christ and that is the law of Love. In 1 Corinthians 13 - we see more of what should be living in our hearts - love not arrogance, love not impatience, love not greed, love not selfishness, love not rudeness, love not jealousy? 

We have a choice - we can wrestle and take those things captive that are eating away at our life or we can let them lurk around inside, sneak up on us, poison every thing we do or possibly even kill our lives?

What beast do you need to wrestle with, capture and take captive?

A lady once came to evangelist Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. “There’s nothing wrong with losing my temper,” She said. “I blow up, and then it’s all over.”  “So does a shotgun,” Sunday replied, “and look at the damage it leaves behind!”

Getting angry can sometimes be like leaping into a race car, gunning the motor, going zero to 100 in 4.4 seconds and then finding out that the brakes don’t work.  We all know what anger is. We have felt it, dealt with it and suffered because of it… And when it gets out of control it turns destructive, it can lead to problems—problems at work, in your personal relationships, and in the overall quality of your life.

 I would have to say that 90% of what we get angry about doesn’t really matter.

Think of the last time you got “angry.”  

Was it about something worthwhile?
Was it something that really mattered in life?
Was it simply because you didn’t get your way, something didn’t go the way you expected, or you didn’t like the person you had to deal with?
What we get angry about is – silly stuff.  Sadly too few of us get angry for the right reasons… yes, even Christians.

 Some Christians even think that getting angry is a sin – but folks – getting angry isn’t a sin, what you get angry at and what you do with it… well that is a different story.

In Mark 3 verse 5 is says that Jesus got “angry” at the hardness of the Pharisees’ heart.

Jesus’ anger was what we call – “Righteous indignation.”  Indignation is anger aroused by something unjust, unworthy, mean or hard hearted.   Jesus’ anger was a combination of resentment and a broken heart.

You know… If you cannot hate what is wrong, it’s becomes questionable if you really love right.

     Some people suppress anger, holding anger inside in unhealthy ways.  Some people wrongly express anger, by griping, sarcasm, rage, intimidation and blame.     
     Some people become passive with anger. In a battle for superiority, passively angry people have a need to control without being transparent or open.     Some people are assertive with anger. Failure to share feelings in a constructive way may produce assertive anger.   
Everyone needs to deal with anger. Folks, you can't eliminate anger – but what you do with it can make a world of difference in your life. Jesus was one who could be angry and not sin. And He is our example.

 Here are a few suggestions on how you can get - ANGRY THE RIGHT WAY! 

 TALK IT OVER –James 1:19a (quick to hear, slow to speak)

     If you will simply talk to the right person (not 50 others) - approach them with kindness and an attempt and attitude to make right – then you might find that a cup of coffee and a 30 minute conversation could diffuse an irritating situation.

THINK CLEARLY - James 1:19b-20 – Anger can blind your thought process.      

      Ill directed anger is not going to fix anything - it won't make you feel better (may actually make you feel worse). If you think clearly you see problems and situations for what they are, not what you perceive through angry eyes. James 1:20 – “for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”
Reacting instead of responding will not achieve the Godly results.
 

TAKE TIME – to consider what is good and right - Philippians 4:8

     When you get unjustifiably angry you don’t see much else… you don’t seem better solutions, you don’t see the damage you might be creating… Take time to consider all the aspects this way you will make sure you are getting upset about the right stuff, not the silly stuff.  Consider the right things to do in response.

TAKE POSITIVE ACTION - consider solutions rather than just the problem.

Anyone can find problems, anyone can get angry about anything… but Christian men and women should be those who can get angry and their anger (righteous indignation) leads to positive actions and answers – to actually DO SOMETHING.

     Jesus’ anger was a mix of anguish and compassion – BUT - His anger resulted in POSITIVE ACTION – it moved Him to do something, something positive… Shooting a doctor who performs abortions is not the proper response to the anger the procedure might produce in you… Murdering in the name of God does not lead to a very good witness.

Jesus had the power to wipe out the Pharisees, instead He used that power heal many lives.

You have been told “Don’t Get Mad – Get Even”  But take Jesus’ example

Don’t Get Mad– Get Right.

Transition -
Everything in life eventually transitions. You cannot avoid it. The funny thing is that we are told that transition is the number one cause of stress in life.

The primary transitions are - marriage, divorce,  a new baby, a new job and a long distance move. So what happens if more than one of these transitions happen at once? What if more than two?
In that instance shouldnt we become a basket case? Frantic, unable to function?
If you let it, then sure these things can cause a terrible amount of stress and high levels of anxiety.
But it need not be that way -

My wife and I made two of the above transitions - a long distanc move and a new job - with that it included new friends, new ways of doing things , new streets to learn, finding a new place to get a hair cut and the list goes on and on........... it's enough to drive you insane.
But again, it need not be that way.

Life is life - life has transitions and changes in every aspect. You cannot stop it, you cannot dodge it and it happens to everyone of us...
So what are you to do when you face all these transitions and changes?
You cant just hide in the dark thinking it will just go away, you cant think someone else will take care of it all for you...

Jesus laid out a great plan for life's transitions - In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus put it this way...

²⁵ “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? ²⁷ And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
²⁸ And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, ²⁹ yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! ³¹ Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
 ³² For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
³⁴ “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

There you have it... God cares for His own, and if God is for you who can be against you?
Worry and anxiety cannot add a single hour to your life - but it can take time away from life.
When you allow the changes and transitions to consume your mind you will ultimatly lose today and sacrifice the future for things that a)you cannot change and b)you cant stop it from happening... you dont have to just go with the flow - the key in this is in verse 33 -

"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you."
What things? ALL THINGS!  All the things you need, all the things that you NEED in life - NOT ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT - you do know that there is a difference dont you?

If you focus on what matters you find that either all the things/worries/transitions/changes are not as nearly big and scary as you thought they were - when you focus on God and all He entails you will find that the size of the stuff pales to the size of God and all He can do...

Sometimes the trench of life takes a detour you werent expecting. BUT it is all just part of the journey, so dont let the sharp sudden turn derail your life. Trust in God - focus on Christ and hold on tight...

In The Trenches with
Doug