Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness (emphasis mine) springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; – Hebrews 12:14-15
Bitterness is a non-discriminatory offender.
It cares not about your gender, social status, racial demographic, political affiliation, religious persuasion or any other way you may attempt to describe yourself.
Bitterness can and often does entangle each and everyone of us at different times during our lives.
However, we often try to just deal with the fruit of bitterness rather than getting to the root of the problem.
Why?
Because it’s easy to pick rotten fruit off a tree and throw it away, with the hopes that something better will grow in its place.
It takes some sweat, and even some blood and tears, to dig down deep and to see if there is a problem with the root system.
But that’s something each of us need to do, when we feel as though we are ensnared by a root of bitterness that seems like it will never go away.
It can hurt to reflect on your actions.
It can be uncomfortable to examine your motives.
It can be difficult to look past the “fruit” and get to the “root.”
But remember a bitter root won’t produce edible spiritual fruit.
The best part is God doesn’t want you to do this alone because He has already supplied the cure for bitterness.
So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, – Exodus 15:22-25
Jesus gave His life for us on Calvary – that old wooden tree – and Calvary is the only real cure for the bitterness of our souls.
In His Service,
Jarryd Raynes – Senior Pastor
Upper Room Church