Refuse To Become Bitter

From: Bob Gass Ministries

 

Ephesians 4:31-32 "Get rid of all bitterness...Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

 

It's impossible to go through life without being hurt. Some folks will kiss you today and kick you tomorrow. Betrayal is something others do to you, but bitterness is something you do to yourself.

 

Sitting at supper with His disciples, Jesus said, "One of you will betray Me." (Mark 14:18) Shortly after that, Judas betrayed Him with a kiss. Jesus, as we know, refused to become bitter. That's because He knew Judas' kiss would usher Him into His destiny. Nor did Jesus turn His back on Peter when he denied Him. Instead, Peter was the only one He mentioned by name when He arranged to meet His disciples for breakfast following the resurrection.

 

Jesus saw Peter in the light of his potential, not his problems. What Peter did at one moment didn't keep Jesus from seeing what he would become when His grace touched Peter's life. And we must be that way too. This is why Paul wrote: "Get rid of all bitterness...Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."