In Others’ Words: The Temptation of Bitterness
When I hear cautions against bitterness, I immediately think of the admonition: 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 NIV)
And Martin Luther King, Jr. got it right when he called bitterness a temptation — a choice we wrestle with … or against. Do I or don’t I allow myself to become bitter about [fill in the blank].
The scary thing about bitterness? What we’re wrestling with — the wrong that was done to us — we know we have a right to be angry. We feel so justified. And our self-justification is so empowering. All the “I’m so right” reasons stack up against the “They’re so wrong” accusations like so many pieces of kindling that our thoughts and emotions ignite … but not into a fire.
No.
What we’ve created are invisible roots that burrow deep into our very being … into our hearts … and the bitter roots lodge there, choking out any thoughts of grace.
Bitterness defiles both us and the ones we are so unforgivably angry with. And it mars the image of God within us.
In Your Words: How do you protect your heart from any root of bitterness? And when you’ve discovered it there, how do you uproot bitterness in your heart?
In Others’ Words: The Temptation of Bitterness #InOthersWords #lifequotes #bitterness
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“Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.” #MartinLutherKingJr #quotes #forgiveness
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