Bitterness
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God
and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Hebrews 12:15
Bitterness has a tenacious way of taking root deep within the soul and resisting all efforts to weed it out. Bitterness occurs for many reasons. It might come from deep hurts you received as a child, hurts you cannot forget. Time, rather than diminishing the hurt, only seems to sharpen the pain. Bitterness can result from the hurtful words of a friend or coworker. Often the person who hurt you is unaware of the extent of your bitterness. You find yourself rehearsing the offense over and over again, each time driving the root of bitterness deeper within your soul. Bitterness can derive from a sense of being unjustly treated.
Bitterness is easy to justify. You can get so used to a bitter heart that you are even comfortable with it, but it will destroy you. Only God is fully aware of its destructive potential. There is nothing so deeply imbedded in your heart that God's grace cannot reach down and remove it. No area in your life is so painful that God's grace cannot bring total healing. No offense committed against you is so heinous that God's love cannot enable you to forgive.
When you allow bitterness to grow in your life, you reject the grace of God that can free you. If you are honest before God, you will admit the bitterness and allow God to forgive you. Bitterness enslaves you, but God is prepared to remove your bitterness and replace it with His peace and joy.
- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby
Sermon: "The Contentment Commandments"
1. Thou shalt rejoice
2. Thou shalt not resent3. Thou shalt appreciate all seasons4. Thou shalt keep a secret stash5. Thou shalt not confuse the supply with the source6. Thou shalt not downplay disappointment7. Thou shalt recognize8. Thou shalt release9. Thou shalt receive
10. Thou shalt remain
I Repeat: Rejoice!
Scripture:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. - Philippians 4:4
Reflect:
Where do you try to find joy in your life? Where does Paul say joy can always be found?
There are so many things to enjoy in this life. God has blessed us to be sure! But have you ever noticed how some of our very favorite things let us down? For example, I really enjoy watching Husker football. But if I looked solely to Husker wins for the source of my joy, I’d be depressed right about now. I also really enjoy a nice steak dinner. But all it takes is for the chef to overcook it and I’m disappointed. I enjoy my family more than any other earthly thing but sometimes my wife and I get in disagreements or my kids don’t obey. I can’t count on other people, even my family, to be a constant source of joy.
But in today’s verse, Paul repeats one the most important themes of his letter to Philippians. He reminds the Philippians to rejoice! But not in just anything. He reminds them to rejoice in the Lord. Not just when things are going well for them either. He says to rejoice in the Lord always. It was so important for him to get his point across that he even repeated it again!
Paul knew that in order for the Philippians to stand firm in their faith, they needed to have their joy rooted in the right place. Otherwise, once they faced trials and tribulations, they would fall away. And they would face trials. Paul knew this firsthand. And yet, Paul remained full of joy. This joy wasn’t a superficial happiness. He wasn’t slapping on a fake smile throughout his imprisonment. This was a deep abiding joy that enabled him to endure even the worst suffering because his joy was in the Lord and his hope was in the promises He had made.
In Romans 12:12, Paul said: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” How could he say this? “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). He had set his eyes on Jesus Christ and compared to Him and His glory, the troubles of this world seemed small in comparison.
All of the good things on earth are still just that - earthly things. They are temporary and imperfect. If you are counting on your health, wealth, family, friends, possessions, career, etc. to be the source of your joy, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and heartache. But if your joy is rooted in the Lord and the future hope of His promises, you will remain steadfast. So rejoice! I repeat: rejoice! But not in the things of this earth. Rejoice only and always in Him.
Pray:
Lord, You alone are my constant source of joy. I know that everything else I enjoy will eventually let me down. But if my hope is in You and Your promises, I will always have a reason to rejoice. Amen.
- Nat Crawford (Provided by "Back To The Bible")
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. - Philippians 4:4
Reflect:
Where do you try to find joy in your life? Where does Paul say joy can always be found?
There are so many things to enjoy in this life. God has blessed us to be sure! But have you ever noticed how some of our very favorite things let us down? For example, I really enjoy watching Husker football. But if I looked solely to Husker wins for the source of my joy, I’d be depressed right about now. I also really enjoy a nice steak dinner. But all it takes is for the chef to overcook it and I’m disappointed. I enjoy my family more than any other earthly thing but sometimes my wife and I get in disagreements or my kids don’t obey. I can’t count on other people, even my family, to be a constant source of joy.
But in today’s verse, Paul repeats one the most important themes of his letter to Philippians. He reminds the Philippians to rejoice! But not in just anything. He reminds them to rejoice in the Lord. Not just when things are going well for them either. He says to rejoice in the Lord always. It was so important for him to get his point across that he even repeated it again!
Paul knew that in order for the Philippians to stand firm in their faith, they needed to have their joy rooted in the right place. Otherwise, once they faced trials and tribulations, they would fall away. And they would face trials. Paul knew this firsthand. And yet, Paul remained full of joy. This joy wasn’t a superficial happiness. He wasn’t slapping on a fake smile throughout his imprisonment. This was a deep abiding joy that enabled him to endure even the worst suffering because his joy was in the Lord and his hope was in the promises He had made.
In Romans 12:12, Paul said: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” How could he say this? “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). He had set his eyes on Jesus Christ and compared to Him and His glory, the troubles of this world seemed small in comparison.
All of the good things on earth are still just that - earthly things. They are temporary and imperfect. If you are counting on your health, wealth, family, friends, possessions, career, etc. to be the source of your joy, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and heartache. But if your joy is rooted in the Lord and the future hope of His promises, you will remain steadfast. So rejoice! I repeat: rejoice! But not in the things of this earth. Rejoice only and always in Him.
Pray:
Lord, You alone are my constant source of joy. I know that everything else I enjoy will eventually let me down. But if my hope is in You and Your promises, I will always have a reason to rejoice. Amen.
- Nat Crawford (Provided by "Back To The Bible")
Choose To Rejoice
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,
and the prisoners were listening to them.
and the prisoners were listening to them.
Acts 16:25
[Acts 16:25-34]
[Acts 16:25-34]
Your joy as a Christian should not depend on your circumstances. Joy comes from God, and therefore it cannot be affected by what is outside of you. Don't be fooled into letting the actions of others determine your joy. True joy comes from knowing that God Himself lives within you and has fellowship with you, regardless of your environment. Real joy lies in the knowledge that holy God has completely forgiven you of every sin, and even now, He has a home prepared in heaven where you can spend eternity with Him (John 14:3). The circumstances of your life cannot change these truths!
Paul and Silas faced some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. They were falsely accused, arrested, and imprisoned. They were beaten and shackled in the darkest, coldest section of the prison. But they refused to allow their horrific situation to dampen their joy! They did not blame God for allowing these things to happen to them. Instead, they praised Him for His goodness! In the darkness of the night, they prayed and they sang. God brought a miracle that released them from their chains, but perhaps the greater miracle was that His Holy Spirit could so fill them that even in their painful imprisonment they could overflow with joy!
Do not allow difficult events to cancel the joy of knowing you are a child of God. Choose to allow God's Spirit to fill you with His unquenchable joy, and your life will be a miracle to those who watch you face the trials that come.
- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby
- Excerpt from “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby
Jesus Wants You To Know...
"You tend to feel guilty about pushing back the boundaries of your life to make space for time alone with Me. The world is waiting to squeeze you into its mold and to crowd out time devoted to Me. The ways of the world have also warped your conscience, which punishes you for doing the very thing that pleases Me most: seeking My Face. Listen to Me above the clamor of voices trying to distract you. Ask My Spirit to control your mind, for He and I work in perfect harmony."
"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." - Romans 8:15-16
- "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young