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- Apr 25, 2006
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Toothaches 'n' heartaches
'Looking diligently lest any ... root of bitterness springing up trouble you ...' Hebrews 12:15
Gone are the days when dentists used string and pliers to yank out those toothy pegs of yours. We're much more advanced now: we use pneumatic drills that sound like Hell's Angels' motorbikes backfiring. In order to dodge the dreaded drill we need to avoid fizzy drinks, candy floss and anything else that generally tastes like heaven on a stick. Turning away from the toothpaste inevitably means an extraction. The sugars just eat away our molars.
Far worse than glucose for eroding our insides though is unforgiveness; it's a killer. Left untreated it can take a simple irritation and turn it into anger. The anger soon builds up into resentment. Resentment festers into retaliation. Retaliation equals extraction: the extraction of love and peace in your life. You can't control what other people do, but it's the 'inside' part - the part you can control - that God holds us accountable for.
Paul says, 'Looking diligently lest any ... root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and ... many be defiled' (Hebrews 12:15 KJV).
When you're faced with a hurtful, offensive situation, don't let a wrong attitude eat away your insides. Instead, ask God to help you replace those destructive thoughts with mercy and forgiveness towards the people who hurt you. The Bible says, 'Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life' (Proverbs 4:23 NIV) and 'Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget' (Proverbs 10:11 TM).
written by Bob Gass
'Looking diligently lest any ... root of bitterness springing up trouble you ...' Hebrews 12:15
Gone are the days when dentists used string and pliers to yank out those toothy pegs of yours. We're much more advanced now: we use pneumatic drills that sound like Hell's Angels' motorbikes backfiring. In order to dodge the dreaded drill we need to avoid fizzy drinks, candy floss and anything else that generally tastes like heaven on a stick. Turning away from the toothpaste inevitably means an extraction. The sugars just eat away our molars.
Far worse than glucose for eroding our insides though is unforgiveness; it's a killer. Left untreated it can take a simple irritation and turn it into anger. The anger soon builds up into resentment. Resentment festers into retaliation. Retaliation equals extraction: the extraction of love and peace in your life. You can't control what other people do, but it's the 'inside' part - the part you can control - that God holds us accountable for.
Paul says, 'Looking diligently lest any ... root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and ... many be defiled' (Hebrews 12:15 KJV).
When you're faced with a hurtful, offensive situation, don't let a wrong attitude eat away your insides. Instead, ask God to help you replace those destructive thoughts with mercy and forgiveness towards the people who hurt you. The Bible says, 'Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life' (Proverbs 4:23 NIV) and 'Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget' (Proverbs 10:11 TM).
written by Bob Gass
