Don't Give Space In Your Heart To The Thistle Of Bitterness
Late summer brings to the gardener much work, especially rampant are the weeds. How these plants double in size overnight without rain is a mystery to anyone who is trying to keep their gardens free and clear of these life sucking invaders.
That is why it is so important to keep a watchful eye out for weeds, so that they do not have the opportunity, especially during the heat and dearth of August, to run rampant taking the much needed water and minerals from the developing harvest.
Hebrews 12:14-17 (MSG) encourages the reader to
We must tend to our relationships, especially our relationship with God! It is our responsibility, as believers, to strive for peace with everyone and holiness.
If we don't do due diligence in our relationships with each other and with the Lord, the Bible says, we will not see the Lord!
This is serious!
We must keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.
We may feel that our bitterness toward God or others is justified and so we gaze on it, we tend to it in the garden of our hearts by dwelling on it.
It becomes and idol and we pander to its deceitful beauty in our minds eye without exposing it to the weed killing word of God that uproots false ideologies and lays bare our sin, exposing its nasty invasive nature and corrupting abilities.
Before we know it, our emotions are intertwined with a destructive pattern of thinking and therefore responding to God and each other from a corrupted spirit.
Let us not trade the glorious fruit of peace and holiness with God and others for the thistle of bitterness! Bitterness causes trouble. Trouble in our hearts that pours out to those around us and defiles and troubles other's hearts. This should not be!
You may have bitter discontent about where God has placed you in this time in your life but don't forget that often times our lives are due to the consequences of our actions.
Every action has a consequence and just because God is sovereign does not mean that we do not have to pay for our choices.
And yes, the choice to follow God means that we deny ourselves and take up our cross which means that it is bound to be difficult, but when we believe that we deserve better we get ourselves in a thistle patch of bitterness.
We feel entitled to a life that we had in mind and we think that because we are "doing" what God would have us do that our lives should be easy. Not so!
On the contrary, when we position our hearts to serve God rather than ourselves, we go through great difficulties. We fall into the snare of Satan when we begin to compare our lives with the lives of the people around us.
Comparison to anyone other than Christ prevents us from having relationships with others in the body of Christ when say, their lives look the way that we always dreamed that our lives should look.
Harboring bitterness from an unforgiving attitude, resentment, jealousy, anger and continued disappointment defiles us and those around us when we choose to not address the sin of our own hearts with God.
We must follow and do the what Jesus says in Mark 1:15 after John was arrested
Tim Keller defines the gospel like this;
That is why it is so important to keep a watchful eye out for weeds, so that they do not have the opportunity, especially during the heat and dearth of August, to run rampant taking the much needed water and minerals from the developing harvest.
Hebrews 12:14-17 (MSG) encourages the reader to
work at getting along with each other and with God.
Relationships take work!
Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God.
Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity.
We must tend to our relationships, especially our relationship with God! It is our responsibility, as believers, to strive for peace with everyone and holiness.
If we don't do due diligence in our relationships with each other and with the Lord, the Bible says, we will not see the Lord!
This is serious!
We may feel that our bitterness toward God or others is justified and so we gaze on it, we tend to it in the garden of our hearts by dwelling on it.
It becomes and idol and we pander to its deceitful beauty in our minds eye without exposing it to the weed killing word of God that uproots false ideologies and lays bare our sin, exposing its nasty invasive nature and corrupting abilities.
Before we know it, our emotions are intertwined with a destructive pattern of thinking and therefore responding to God and each other from a corrupted spirit.
Watch out for the Esau syndrome:
trading away God's lifelong gift in order to satisfy
a short term appetite.
You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act
and wanted God's blessing-
but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
God's people are a gift! Psalm 133 gives us a picture of abiding in peace. This should be the goal of the church.
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.
God desires for us to work at our relationships
and strive for peace and unity.
Hebrews 12:15 says
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;
that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau,
who sold his birthright for a single meal.
Let us not trade the glorious fruit of peace and holiness with God and others for the thistle of bitterness! Bitterness causes trouble. Trouble in our hearts that pours out to those around us and defiles and troubles other's hearts. This should not be!
You may have bitter discontent about where God has placed you in this time in your life but don't forget that often times our lives are due to the consequences of our actions.
Every action has a consequence and just because God is sovereign does not mean that we do not have to pay for our choices.
And yes, the choice to follow God means that we deny ourselves and take up our cross which means that it is bound to be difficult, but when we believe that we deserve better we get ourselves in a thistle patch of bitterness.
We feel entitled to a life that we had in mind and we think that because we are "doing" what God would have us do that our lives should be easy. Not so!
On the contrary, when we position our hearts to serve God rather than ourselves, we go through great difficulties. We fall into the snare of Satan when we begin to compare our lives with the lives of the people around us.
Comparison to anyone other than Christ prevents us from having relationships with others in the body of Christ when say, their lives look the way that we always dreamed that our lives should look.
Harboring bitterness from an unforgiving attitude, resentment, jealousy, anger and continued disappointment defiles us and those around us when we choose to not address the sin of our own hearts with God.
We must follow and do the what Jesus says in Mark 1:15 after John was arrested
" The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel."
Tim Keller defines the gospel like this;
"We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope."
The main reason Christ died was for our forgiveness so that we could be reconciled to God and have peace!
Who are we to hold peoples sins against them in our hearts and allow them to fester and grow and defile us when Christ willing when to the cross for our sins and He laid down His life so that we would live in peace with God and man!
So if your heart is full of bitter discontent toward people then you must repent!
Proverbs 28:13 says
People who conceal their sins will not prosper,
but if they confess, and turn from them,
they will receive mercy.
Father, help us to recognize the deception that lurks in the thistle of bitterness and how it has the ability to defile many. Help us Spirit to repent and live lives of forgiveness and peace with one another so that we will have full access to your grace and mercy because WE need it!
Help us to extend grace, peace, mercy and love to those around us and help us to keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus not on the lives of others or our difficult circumstance. We see that when Peter looked away from you and consider the waves he began to sink.
Help us to continually watch over our hearts as we think and expose the roots of bitterness. Turn over the soil of our hearts like you turned over the tables in the temple Jesus!
Help us to guard our hearts above all else and gaze on the beauty and wonder and majesty of our King.
Philippians 4:8-9 ESV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me -- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Beautiful, eye opening!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing.
Thank you Jesus, for your mercy, grace, love, everything you have given us. Amen