Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Turning Away from Bitterness and Unforgiveness (4.27.16)

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of GOD and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many - Hebrews 12:14-15

Faith Believers,
Forgiveness isn’t easy, but GOD said that we must forgive each other.
We do not want to miss GOD's grace by not forgiving others.

When others offend us we must forgive them immediately, because if not, this hurt will fester deep down inside of the heart and can cause an explosion of bitter rage.  Failure to forgive leads to negative inner grief as well.

Bitterness is nothing more than old unforgiveness.

Bitterness grows from a seed of injustice, planted and watered in the garden of hurt, disappointment and rage. When nurtured, it brings forth negative fruit. This fruit, fully mature, tastes sweet at first bite, but then it turns the inner being sour with a harsh, deep despair, after-taste which produces ungodly thoughts and actions..

Jesus told us to forgive.
More than this, He commanded us
to pray for those who offend us!

Beloved, have mercy on those who have hurt you and forgive them!

They are hurting too, and this is the reason why they have offended you without having compassion for your feelings.

It is sobering to reflect on these words,  For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions - Matthew 6:14-15, NASB

The Lord wants to make sure we understand the importance of forgiving others through the words we pray from the Lord's prayer. When we receive mercy from the Lord, we are to extend it also to those who have hurt us. The Lord want us to love one another the way he has loved us and forgiven us of our sins.
  -  Marilyn

Lord,
Teach me to have a heart of forgiveness and to turn
away bitterness in my thoughts, actions and speech. 

Draw me towards a deep desire to demonstrate only
grace and mercy to others, even when they
do unkind and hurtful things to me. 

May Jesus live within me so fully,
so that there is no room for anything
but His character to be seen in my life.

Amen 


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