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

Pleasant Words

Prov. 16:24  Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones

The words we speak can be very powerful. In themselves, they don’t have the power to change a life, but the Holy Spirit can take the words we speak and use it to touch the life of someone who needs encouragement or comfort. We don’t know what is happening in people’s live and speaking pleasant words at the right time can make a difference. Hurting people often lash out and will become angry and say words that they often regret later. How we respond to them in words can calm the tempest around them. It would be good that we examine our words before we open our mouth. Are they true, are the kind, and are they necessary? May our words be as honey, sweet and pleasant. 

Christian Anger

Eph. 4:26a, 32 “ Be Angry…and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”-

In a perfect world, everyone would put aside their own wants and even their dignity to keep peace. It is natural to be angry when wrong is inflected and our shelf image is wounded. The natural tendency is to strike back, and inflict pain to those who say and do things that hurt. Anger is a natural emotion that in itself is not sin. As Christians, we have a choice how we are going handle our anger. Paul says that we are not to let our anger become bitter and malicious. Jesus, our God and Savior has shown us how we are to act in the face being treated wrongly. React with kindness, forgive those who despiteful use you. Show the same forgiveness to others that Christ has shown you. Such choices are not natural, they are super natural and come through the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. We can lay our head down each night knowing that God has given us a heart of forgiveness and our feelings of anger can be given to God.

Be Anger, and Sin Not

Eph. 4:31.32 “ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Becoming angry is seen as an out of control emotion. Normally when one becomes angry it is because someone else has inflected pain or has treated us wrongly or carelessly. Becoming angry can also happen when we see an injustice take place, someone is hurting or abusing someone else. Anger is a normal human emotion, but God’s word says to put away anger. In the work of holiness, or sanctification, God deals with us about our carnal anger that stirs within our heart when things don’t go our way, or when someone has treated us wrongly. The Holy Spirit removes carnal self from the throne of our life and put the love of God that constrains us to treat others with love and kindness. Not all anger is carnal, but we must always beware of the reasons we are angry and allow the Holy Spirit to direct us in our actions and behavior. We can be anger at what sin does and how it destroys lives, but we must be careful to direct our anger toward the sin, and not the person, who God loves and desires to save and forgive. “Be angry, but sin not”