Reconciled to Your Brother

 Matthew 5:24
Leave your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer you a gift.
We cannot have a right relationship with God, if there are hard feelings between you and someone else. As Christians, Jesus wants us to have a heart of forgiveness and forbearance. We may not always see eye to eye with everyone, but Christ made it possible for us to show compassion and understanding. It is not easy to always put aside things that others have done or said to us, and act like nothing ever happened or was said, but Jesus made His teaching clear, “…be reconciled to your brother”. Your relationship may never be the same, but God is able to heal and make it possible to continue working for the Kingdom side by side without strife and bitterness.

Root of Bitterness

 Heb. 12:15
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Bitterness is an evil spirit that holds resentment and indifference toward God or toward other people. It normally begins when one feels that they have been betrayed or been dealt unfairly. Bitterness will hold a grudge, will cause a person to respond unkindly, and may look for ways to get back. Bitterness goes beyond being angry at someone or having displeasure in someone’s actions. We may even feel at times that God does not care, or question the actions of someone that caused hurt. It is when we allow these circumstances to change our hearts from submitting to the will of God, or not letting go of the anger and allowing God to put a spirit of love, grace, and mercy in our hearts toward others. The solution is to follow peace and holiness. Let the Holy Spirit take control of your mind, body, and soul. Holiness of heart is not just a Bible doctrine, it is a life experience that we must live if we want to see God. Let God take out the root of bitterness out of your heart

Let All Bitterness Be Put Away

Eph. 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

People normally become bitter and full of malice when they are treated wrongly. It is the natural reaction of the carnal nature. It is difficult to understand the behavior of other people. Those who seek to hurt others do so out of self preservation or selfish intent. Desiring to fulfill or satisfy a personal need. The carnal heart cares not who it hurts, only thinking of self and protecting one’s ego, even at the expense of doing wrong or hurting someone else. Bitterness, a sin that destroys the very fiber of one’s character can easily begin to fester in the heart toward one who has wronged us. We feel it is our right to be bitter, or angry. Having ill will toward someone who is treating you unfair or hateful is what is expected. To the natural man, this is how we deal with people who don’t care and are self centered. How is it possible to let all bitterness be put away? How can we keep from lashing back in anger and speaking back maliciously? It is only by the grace of God and a heart purified by faith by the Holy Spirit that this is made possible. Even as Christ forgave us, He gives us grace to forgive and love others. “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Fix Our Heart On God

Psalm 57:5,7 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth… My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

Many people are fixed on the things of this world. Fixed on this temporal life. Pleasure, power, or personal gain occupied our time and attention from the time we wake till the time we lay our heads on our pillow. On the other spectrum, there are those that are fixed on their problems, trails and disappointments in life. Life is not fair, and their heart is fixed with bitterness toward all that seem to have it better and ultimately toward God. Life happens, and it is not always fair, but what is fair is that we all have a choice to fix our heart on Jesus, and lift up our heart in praise. Exalt the Name of Jesus. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name” Where our treasures, so is our heart. Who do you treasure in life? Fixed your heart on God and praise Him for all He has done.