Things have been critical here for the last two weeks. For some people, the bad weather has placed them in critical situations, lives have been endangered and lost. For me, the situation has not been critical in that sense. In fact, the situation has not been critical for me – I have been critical of the situation. I have criticised the local council for their inability to clear the roads of the snow and ice. Very critical. I have to confess that I have got quite angry about it, and felt that the anger was justified.

I should know better. God knows. In fact, he has always known, and he wrote something down for me a few thousand years ago.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.The world and all its people belong to him. (Ps 24:1, NLT)

See that little word in the middle of that? ALL

All its people belong to him. Not just the good ones. Not just the ones who get things right. Not just the Christians. All its people belong to him. And that includes the numpties, the wasters, the ones who cannot organise anything. It includes those rioters in London. It includes the good-for-nothing, the thief, the rapist, the murderer, the terrorist.

All its people belong to him. I have been getting angry at people who belong to God!

Are we not all children of the same Father? Are we not all created by the same God? Then why do we betray each other, violating the covenant of our ancestors? (Malachi 2:10, NLT)

If the answer to that is “yes” then the people I was getting angry with are also actually my relations. Is that how I should be with my own family?

Christ died for me when I was still a sinner. He died for me when I was not a very nice man. He died for me so that I could be forgiven – even though I did not deserve it. He also died for all these people I have been getting angry with – people who have hurt him much, much more than they have ever or will ever hurt me!

I should get angry with myself for getting angry with others, but I must not! All of its people – that includes me.

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