Bitterness
- Hebrews 12:15: 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.
- "Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."
- Bitterness bears sinful fruit.
- The bitter person often ends up looking like the person they are bitter against.
- When you are keeping bitterness in your heart you are keeping yourself from the grace God wants to give us.
- Ephesians 4:22-24, 31-32
- Put off an old sinful habit, think differently about the issue/solution, and put on a new righteous habit
- Put off bitterness and put on kindness and compassion, forgiving each other like Christ forgave you.
- Our feelings always follow our actions
- Kindness ends up drawing repentance from the one who hurt you
- "Hurt people hurt people." - Don't be a hurt person who hurts people
- Forgiveness
- Is not: endorsement of behavior, exemption of consequences, restoration of trust
- You're only commanded to trust God. Trust is earned from anyone else.
- Bitterness = unforgiveness
- Judicial Forgiveness
- We give to everyone
- An issue of my heart
- Entrusting it to God's justice
- Let it go to God and not hold it in our heart and life
- It's not our job to make them pay for what they've done
- Relational Forgiveness
- Given to anyone who asks for it
- An issue of relationship
- Is making promises to the offender
- I won't bring the matter up to you, others or myself
- The best way to overcome bitterness is to be others centered
- 1 John 1:9
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