- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 18,404
Badly Burned Boy
'Watch out that no [bitter] root ... grows up [among] you' Hebrews 12:15
Remember that bit of childhood wisdom, 'never play with matches'? Only when you clutched that short burnt stick next to a towering inferno could you clearly see why. Bitterness is like that tiny matchstick. The smallest hint of it has the potential to spark a wild fire throughout your life.
So how do you throw the water on bitterness before you go up in the flames?
First, forgive. Forgiveness isn't based on an emotion. Don't wait until you 'feel' like it; decide today to free yourself of the crime. When you forgive you open the door for God to heal you. Jesus said, 'Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy' (Matt. 5:7 NIV). Since you yourself will always need to make withdrawals, God calls you to keep making 'mercy deposits'.
Second, pray about it. The moment you sense resentment, turn to God and He will give you the strength to act in love rather than react in anger. When you commit to living this way He promises to give you 'power to keep [yourself] calm in the days of adversity' (Ps. 94:13 AMP).
Third, think scripturally. Look up every verse you can find on showing forgiveness and meditate on them. Remember, each time you choose to do the right thing, a little more of the old you dies, and the new you develops. Call 999 on bitterness before you end up badly burned.
written by Bob Gass
'Watch out that no [bitter] root ... grows up [among] you' Hebrews 12:15
Remember that bit of childhood wisdom, 'never play with matches'? Only when you clutched that short burnt stick next to a towering inferno could you clearly see why. Bitterness is like that tiny matchstick. The smallest hint of it has the potential to spark a wild fire throughout your life.
So how do you throw the water on bitterness before you go up in the flames?
First, forgive. Forgiveness isn't based on an emotion. Don't wait until you 'feel' like it; decide today to free yourself of the crime. When you forgive you open the door for God to heal you. Jesus said, 'Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy' (Matt. 5:7 NIV). Since you yourself will always need to make withdrawals, God calls you to keep making 'mercy deposits'.
Second, pray about it. The moment you sense resentment, turn to God and He will give you the strength to act in love rather than react in anger. When you commit to living this way He promises to give you 'power to keep [yourself] calm in the days of adversity' (Ps. 94:13 AMP).
Third, think scripturally. Look up every verse you can find on showing forgiveness and meditate on them. Remember, each time you choose to do the right thing, a little more of the old you dies, and the new you develops. Call 999 on bitterness before you end up badly burned.
written by Bob Gass
