QUESTION #13
Do we harbor a spirit of bitterness towards others? Is there hatred in our hearts?

Have you experienced the heart wrenching gut twisting feeling when you see a certain person or enter into a particular situation? Often bitterness comes from disappointment and rejection. Someone didn’t treat us right or a certain situation didn’t go as planned. If we don’t cleanse our hearts from this anger, envy or resentment, we can develop a spirit of bitterness and resentment. This is very unhealthy and certainly doesn’t allow for Jesus to make His way in and through our lives.

I think about Jesus who was despised and rejection. When the angel first appeared to Mary and told her she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God, both she and Jesus were rejected. There wasn’t even enough room in the inn for Jesus to be born. The end of His life, He was rejected by some people closest to Him. He has walked in our shoes and felt our pain, yet did so without hatred.

No matter what has happened to us, there is freedom available to us to forgive others and walk in joy and peace. We don’t have to be bound to a bitter heavy heart. Don’t close Jesus out from birthing something new in your heart this Christmas season. Allow bitterness to go.

APPLICATION:
1. What dissappointments have happened to you that you’re still hurting over? Is there hatred in your heart for a person? A type of people? A sports team? Don’t laugh…people say they hate other teams often. God can bring freedom
2. Consider the humility of Jesus and facing rejection and ask Him to empower you to love with a pure heart in all circumstances.

SCRIPTURES:

Hebrews 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

I John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?