Your Daily Devotional for June 15, 2007

 

June 15,  2007

 

 

A Bitter Spirit

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

 

Matthew 18:21-22

 

 

Over the last few days we have seen how God's grace can help us during our trials. His grace is sufficient to help us when others wrong us. Yet He cannot help us if we have a bitter spirit and do not forgive them.

 

In our verses today we see that God commands us to forgive those who wrong us. Forgiveness and God's grace go hand-in-hand. As we seek God's grace, He will help us forgive others. God desires to work through us, but we limit Him when we choose to become bitter and refuse to forgive others.

 

A bitter spirit is harmful to us as Christians. Bitterness can make us lose perspective on life. While we should be focused on Christ and living for Him, our eyes are usually settled on the hurt and pain we feel. With a bitter spirit often comes anger and resentment. We can focus so much on the pain that we develop resentment toward the person who caused the pain. When we are focused on our own pain and hurt, we will not be able to effectively live for Christ.

 

Not only can bitterness make us lose perspective, but it can also cause us to lose our trust in others. Many times when a child has been abused or neglected, it is difficult for them to open up and trust anyone. Even so, when we harbor a bitter spirit toward someone, we will lose our ability to trust others. This distrust will overrun our lives, and we will loose our effectiveness for Christ.

 

Also, when we are filled with bitterness, we will not be able to live the lives He has prepared for us. God has a purpose for our lives and He wants to use each of us in a special way. When we are focused on ourselves and our hurts, we will not be able to see the needs of others. We will lose the opportunity to tell others of Christ or to help those who are hurting. Christ didn't focus on Himself as He was on the Cross, but He made sure His earthly mother Mary was cared for. When we have a bitter spirit, we lose the opportunity to be used by God.

 

Booker T. Washington once said, "I will never allow any man to destroy or degenerate my soul by making me hate him." Even though someone wrongs us, we should not get angry or bitter toward them. We must, like Christ, forgive them. When we choose to forgive them rather than become bitter, God is able to work through us and use us in a mighty way.

 

Are you harboring bitterness toward someone? Have you failed to forgive someone who has wronged you? Take time now to ask Christ to help you forgive those who have wronged you. Let God use you today by having a God-honoring spirit instead of a bitter spirit.

 

 

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Nehemiah 1-3 • Acts 2:1-21

 

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