“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;” – Hebrews 12:14-15
Bitterness is a poison we choose to drink for ourselves (over and over and over). Bitterness spreads until it poisons our hearts, minds, souls, and relationships. While it often begins with a genuine wrong done to us, bitterness arises when we take that wrong and respond to it wrongly for an extended period of time. When we dwell too long on our hurt, loss, anger, and sorrow. What begins with so-called righteous indignation gradually hardens into toxic bitterness that can devastate our lives more than the original harm ever could.
We can’t control other people or how they act. Some will act sinfully, cruelly, selfishly, thoughtlessly, or evilly. However, we can control, and are ultimately responsible for, how we respond to others. Scripture is clear: because God didn’t dwell on our sinfulness, evil, and rebellion but instead gave His Son as a sacrifice to offer us forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation we’re called to do the same with the broken relationships in our lives.
We must apply the Gospel to our interpersonal relationships. We must strive for peace with everyone just as God strove for peace with us – at the cost of His Son. By the power of God’s Spirit, we must pursue the personal holiness that’s impossible when our minds are focused on our grievances, wounds, scars, and bitterness. We must display God’s grace toward others who don’t deserve it, just as we don’t. We must release our anger, frustration, hurt, and disappointment to the Lord before it hardens into a root of bitterness that ultimately poisons us. Christian, don’t drink that poison!!!