BITTERNESS!

In our last post, we talked about the bondage of sin. There, we talked about how sin keeps someone tied with the mentality of ‘you cannot be free’.

We also examined a way out; the way of gaining salvation.

Today, we’ll be talking about BITTERNESS.
First, what is bitterness?

Bitterness simply means to harsh, hateful and resentful. It simply means to be filled with anger and hatred which reflects in words and actions.

Bitter people are naturally harsh. This is because they are not filled with joy or peace. So, they take out their frustrations on people. Sometimes, they go as far as hitting people for flimsy reasons.

Bitter people are vengeful. Yes!

When offended, they always want to have their own pound of flesh. They never take to consideration their own imperfections and possible influence to any bad thing that might have caused a squabble.

Most times, we unconsciously influence some things that cause us heartbreak and pain. We are blinded by pain that we do not see that we might have had a role to play in the painful circumstance.

We are just clouded by the emotional pain that comes with whatever happened.

If we were go wrong men’s sins to us and our sins to God, we would realize that we have no right to seek vengeance for anything. We also have offended someone who never punished us.

St. Matthew 6:14&15 says; “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Men are liable to offend you. Men will always sin against you. It is you that would determine not to let bitterness into your heart. God chose to forgive because He understood something.

Forgiving sets you free!
Yes!

I’ve been offended so much that I couldn’t find words tell someone else what happened. The few people who knew felt pity for me. But I decided in my heart not to let anything kill the joy of the Lord bubbling in me, daily.

I made it a decision to forgive every trespass. It’s not in my place to tell someone whether or not to sin against me. However, it is in my place to decide to forgive.

Forgiving makes you the bigger person!

Some people have offended me behind my back and though I didn’t know. However, I had full knowledge of their deeds. I decided to pretend like I didn’t know anything. I related with them better than I did even when they didn’t offend me.

It’s not because I like what they did or I’m a fool. I know what I am after. My own peace of mind! Many times, we give ourselves headache by allowing bitterness in.

Bitterness is a poison!
It’s one poison that has many ways of killing a man. Bitterness can lead to anger. In a fit of rage, a man can do anything, even kill.

We’ve seen situations where people get offended by a person and instead of forgiving and letting go, they allow their emotions drive them. They end up making mistakes that can cost them their lives.

I’ve been talking about forgiveness because that is the only way out of bitterness. Allow the joy of the Lord fill your heart. Allow Jesus love you and take away every layer of bitterness in you. Let go deliberately.

Ephesians 4:31-32 says; “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”(KJV)

This scripture is the perfect conclusion to all I have said.

Bitterness never pays. Bitterness isn’t a fruit of the spirit. Bitterness is a poison. The antidote is forgiveness. Jesus forgave you. You have to forgive others too.

#GrowingInGrace