Be angry without sinning. 

Don't let the sun set on your anger. 

Don't provide an opportunity for the devil. Thieves should no longer steal. 

Instead, they should go to work, using their hands to do good so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need.  

Ephesians 4:26-28 CEB

In the middle of this putting off/putting on is "don't provide an opportunity for the devil"

The word used is "topos", which means a place, region, seat, opportunity. 

When our emotions linger, when we let our emotions lead us to sin, when we choose to continue to steal (for example) we're giving the enemy a place, a seat, an opportunity, a region to stay in. 

Paul's antidote is to choose different actions that are outward oriented, that help and serve others, and to process our emotions (within our safe community). 

"Don't let the sun go down on your anger" is not some special thing about sunset, but about acknowledging our emotions in a timely way, giving the opportunity to restore things where we can, in a timely way.

Anger at injustice shouldn't lead us to sin. 

Anger at a culture where there's plenty yet some need to steal won't lead us to sin. 

Jesus started a revolution to create a world where there is no region, no place, no seat for the devil, no opportunity for the enemy, & one day we'll experience that in its fullness.

#newearth