See to it than on one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble and by it many become defiled… Hebrews 12:15
Merciful Lord,
May we hear your dire warning
to guard our hearts
from the toxic root of bitterness.
Bitterness characterizes the unrighteous,
whose “mouth is full of curses and bitterness,
whose feet are swift to shed blood” (Romans 3:14-15).
Bitterness characterizes the selfish,
those who are “in the gall of bitterness
and in the bond of iniquity” (Acts 8:23).
Bitterness grows when we refuse to forgive.
For those forgiven by you,
bitterness makes no sense.
Knowing the cost of our sins
you paid on the cross,
we pray daily, “forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).
Knowing how fully you have forgiven us,
we forgo resentment and bitterness,
striving for “peace with everyone”
insofar as it depends on us (Hebrews 12:15; Romans 12:18).
In your grace-giving name. Amen.
Read Hebrews 12:14-15; Romans 3:10-18; Romans 12:9-21.
