Letting bitterness kill the grace of God

What happens when pride eats away at our hearts

by R. Douglass Mahaffey

      Hebrews 12:15 - Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;
      God's grace is given to us to make it through the hard times, so that we appreciate Him in the good times. He does this to strengthen our faith so that others may see God's grace working in our lives. When we encounter other people that come in and out of our lives, it can sometimes be a good thing, and it can sometimes be very trying on our patience.
      Then there are those that God connects us to in our lives, such as family members, that can push us to our very limit. It's times like that in which we need to remember that we aren't perfect either, and there are times when we have made lives of others hard by our differences. But sometimes, it's easier to remember all of that in hindsight.
      Micah 7:5-6 - Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
      God's grace extends past the personality differences that have been known to split up families when they grieve the spirit of God and give way to the devil. Bitterness builds up between friends over love triangles, envy over possessions, misunderstood words, and sometimes blunt honesty. When we allow bitterness to come into our relationships, that bitterness kills God's grace. That prideful bitterness is the only thing that we possess that can kill the grace of God; at least as far as receiving it ourselves goes. The good thing is that when we can kill God's grace from coming upon us through our bitterness, we can't stop it from blessing others.
      God's grace is a gift. We can either accept it or refuse it. It's like a door. We have to be the one to choose to go through that door, or walk away from it. But one thing is for sure, God's grace is sufficient. Why we would see what is on the other side of that door, when we face it, and reject what is inside holds no logic. An eternity of never being lonely again, and having hope and a solid direction in our lives waits on the other side of that door. A friend that sticks closer than a brother waits on the other side of that door. When we refuse to forgive those who we hold bitterness against, we are basically telling God, "After what they did to me, they don't deserve my forgiveness."
      Matthew 6:15 - But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 
      There is not a greater slap to the face of Jesus, who died on the cross for forgiveness of our sins, than to tell someone that they aren't worthy of your forgiveness. God placed us on this earth together for the sake of relationships and fellowship with one another, and to please Him in all we do. Which would be more pleasing to God; to sever ties with an individual because of something that can be forgiven and moved past, or treat each other with the love and respect that we would want to be treated with as well? As for me and my house, we will please the Lord.

R. Douglass Mahaffey - The Wise Conservative