Isaiah 11–13, Ephesians 4
Key Verse: Ephesians 4:31
Do you remember the medicines your mother tried to give you as a child? There was aspirin, cough syrup, cod liver oil and more. And for some reason mothers were always trying to get kids to take castor oil. All I remember is that they all tasted terrible.
Sometimes bitter tastes made us healthy; sometimes they didn't. Bitterness is a bit like that. It tastes terrible, but it doesn't do us any good. That's why Paul said, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice" (4:31). Did you notice what topped the list of bad medicine? Bitterness.
Bitterness is the only substance that does more damage to its container than it does to those it is applied to. It destroys people, but not those who are its recipients. Bitterness destroys those who are bitter towards others.
If you are bitter toward your spouse, your boss, your pastor, your brother, your parents, your neighbor or anyone else in your life, they are untouched and unharmed by your bitterness.
Identify your bitterness. Admit it. Confess it. Discard it. It's the only way to have a relationship with others that benefits both of you. Replace bitterness with forgiveness and you will replace acid with honey.
"Lord, don't allow me to retain bitterness. Help me to confess it as sin and forsake it. Help me to realize the personal harm bitterness causes, not to those toward whom I am bitter, but to me."
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