A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (October 25, 2017)
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (Ephesians 4:30-31)
We have published several devotionals recently dealing with bitterness and how it can defile many if it is allowed to become rooted in your heart. Bitterness is nothing less than unforgiveness in disguise. It is a deadly infectious disease that comes to kill, steal, and destroy. It knows no boundaries. Christians can catch it, as well as non-Christians.
Our Pastor (Eddie Adams) preached a message this last Sunday that dealt with “Wounded Warriors”. He addressed specifically the members of the Christian community that have been wounded in some way. Those wounds may have come in the early stages of life from a parent, schoolmate, or teacher. They may have come from a bully. They may have come from a close family member. They may have come from a Pastor or minister. They may have come from something that was said or something that was done. There are a million possibilities. The question is, how do we deal with it?
One of the key questions we have to ask ourselves is this:
“Whose wounds are influencing us the most, our wounds or the wounds of Jesus?”
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Jesus is the way. He isn’t one of the ways. He is “The Way”! He came to give us directions. He came to show us how to be free and one of the key ways is to walk in forgiveness and not drink from the cup of bitterness and hate.
Do you remember when Jesus was being led to His crucifixion and they tried to get Him to drink of gall (which means bitter substance): The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it. (Matthew 27:34, NLT) This seems like such an insignificant verse but I don’t think it is. Jesus was on the brink of giving His life for the salvation of the entire world. He was on the brink of saying, “forgive them Lord, for they know not what they do”. I think it was Satan’s last ditch effort to tempt Jesus to drink out of the cup of bitterness. But Jesus refused to drink of that cup! We need to do the same thing. We need to refuse to drink out of any cup of bitterness!
I ask you again. Whose wounds are influencing you the most, your wounds or the wounds of Jesus?
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23, NLT)
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 springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Hebrews 12:14-15)
