The Word for Today

by Bob and Debby Gass

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‘Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others…’ Ephesians 4:31 CEV

When it comes to bitterness, here are two things you need to keep in mind: First, it is contagious. You are a part of the body of Christ. So what happens to you, and in you, affects those you are connected to both positively and negatively. The Bible says, ‘If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.’ (1 Corinthians 12:26 NIV) A snake bite doesn’t just affect the body part that gets bitten; the venom spreads through the entire system. ‘See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.’ (Hebrews 12:15 NIV) Don’t get upset and leave the church God has placed you in. You need them and they need you. By overcoming bitterness you spread God’s blessing to others. Secondly, it can be overcome. Here’s how: (a) Acknowledge and admit it. (b) Don’t rehearse it in your mind or recite it to others. (c) Repent and renounce any attitude that’s not Christ-like. (d) Ask God to give you self-control, then submit to His leadership. (e) Don’t infect others and don’t let them infect you. (f) Without waiting for admissions or apologies, verbalise to yourself, God and a trusted friend, your decision to forgive all wrongs against you. ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ (Ephesians 4:32 NIV) This will set you free to enjoy your relationship with God, yourself, and others. (g) Look for practical ways to ‘be kind…[and] tenderhearted’ toward those who hurt you. (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV)

SoulFood: 2 Kings 21-23, Matt 26:57-64, Ps 72:1-11, Pr 9:1-6

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2012

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