In Hebrews chapter 12 God gives us a warning and encouragement to make sure we make every effort to live in peace with everyone to not let bitterness take root.
There’s a problem that can blow the candle of joy out of your life and leave your soul in darkness if you’re not careful. This darkness can keep you from understanding the Word of God, being a vibrant, victorious soul winner for Christ.
A great doctor once said, “When you get bitter toward somebody, you become their slave. The moment you start hating a person you become their salve. You can’t enjoy your work anymore because he controls your thoughts. Your resentments produce too much stress hormones in your body and you become fatigued after only a few hours of work. The work you formerly enjoyed is now drudgery. Even vacations cease to give you pleasure.
The person you hate hounds you wherever you go. You cannot escape his/her tyrannical grasp on your mind. When the waiter serves you porterhouse steak with French fries, asparagus, crisp salad and strawberry shortcake smothered with ice cream, it might as well be stale bread and water.” (Unknown author)
King Solomon must have had a similar experience when he wrote: “Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.” (Proverbs 15:17 NIV)
As you continue your journey throughout life, there will be emotional and Spiritual troubles you will experience. “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 NIV)
You cannot have hellishness within your heart and Holiness at the same time. One of the worst things a person can do is be somewhere they don’t want to be and have bitterness in their heart. Because what happens is when you live outwardly a good life but have bitterness down beneath the surface, that outward life is just your way of pruning the limbs while you strengthen the root. But if you don’t deal with the root cause, it’s going to linger.
To remove it and root it out you must forgive and replace it with peace! “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV)
Resource(s): Personal Bible study and Bible (NIV)
