The Roots of Bitterness — Select Passages
The Roots of Bitterness
August 13, 2023
This week's passages: Select Passages
We opened with the five basic tastes and zeroed in on bitterness, both as a flavor and as an emotion. Then we turned to Hebrews 12:15 and its warning: see to it that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble.
We identified three roots. The first is outrage. Ephesians 4:31 says to put away all bitterness, wrath, clamor, and slander. The Greek word for clamor means outcry. The Greek for slander means to rail against. Outrage is the opposite of striving for peace.
The second root is ego. James 3 contrasts heavenly wisdom with carnal wisdom. Carnal wisdom is filled with bitter jealousy and selfish ambition. Where those exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. A clean heart is not a bitter heart.
The third root is stress. Job, Hannah, Naomi, David, Hezekiah, Jeremiah, even Jesus and his disciples faced distress. But on the cross, Jesus refused the cup of bitterness. Nothing can separate us from his love. And the peace of God guards our hearts and minds.
Something to sit with this week:
Which root is most active in your life right now: outrage, ego, or stress? What would it look like to pull it up?
Want to go deeper?
Read the full article at makeadisciple.org