Struck By a Blot of Guilt and Conscience

I was really mad! I was really angry! I wanted to hurt someone to somehow share the hurt I felt inside. Have you ever felt that way?

Sometimes, no matter how nice you are in person, some people's attitude really gets into you and you get so negatively affected. I guess that's how Saul must have felt when he heard how the Ammonites threatened the men of Jabesh Gilead [1 Sam. 11.1].

When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger.

I, too, sometimes burn with anger that I want to cut something into pieces as a warning of what I could do.

He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, "This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel." Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out together as one.

But then, each time I'm about to do something drastic and stupid (something I'd surely regret for the rest of my life), I feel a sudden rush of guilt down my body and seem to hear words of sound counsel behind my ears.

There is that spur-of-the-moment realization that I shouldn't do anything stupid and sound judgment overwhelms me. Then I quickly repent and change course and manner. All that in a split-second. Only the Holy Spirit can do that.

It\s meeting Christ at the well on the sixth hour.

To be sure, I'm not a violent person. I'm known for my maturity, patience and politeness. I'm often a meek guy who would prefer to keep quiet than defend myself even if I'm right. But I guess all of us have limits---and these limits are designed to make abusive people learn some lessons from us. Even Christ went wild in the temple when it was desecrated by money changers.