“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
Good morning, leaders,
I’ve discovered that life can hit us with some unexpected hurts and disruptions. I’m sure each of you reading today’s message has experienced your own hurts and disruptions. Today, I want to encourage you to consider leveraging the hurt and disruptions to the extent that you literally become better because of these experiences and not bitter.
WE ALL MUST LEARN HOW TO RECOGNIZE BITTERNESS IN OUR LIVES.
I read the story of two shopkeepers who owned stores directly across the street from each other. Each spent his days tracking the other’s business and gloating triumphantly each time a customer chose his own store. Over time, they became bitter rivals. Beware and recognize, for all of us, if we are left to fester, righteous anger eventually becomes the divisive hurt that is bitterness. Are you bitter towards someone in your life?
One night, an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers and said, ‘I’ll give you anything you request, but whatever you receive, your competitor will receive double. Would you be rich? You can be very rich indeed, but he’ll be twice as wealthy. Do you desire a long and healthy life? Request it, but his life will be longer and healthier. What’s your desire? “The man thought for a moment and, with a sly grin, stated, ‘Strike me blind in one eye.”
THE PERIL OF BITTERNESS IS EXHAUSTIVE AND DAMAGING TO OUR PERSONAL LIFE.
Bitterness is relentless and dangerous when allowed to take root in our hearts. It destroys decision-making abilities and compromises otherwise focused and productive lives. Its only remedy is forgiveness freely by the Lord God Almighty. If you believe the Bible, we are to give generously of ourselves to others. This is a poignant lesson for our lives and the lives of those connected to us. This is the inevitable result of becoming obsessed with blaming someone (or something) else for our life’s challenges, rather than refusing to let external hindrances or setbacks keep us from pursuing our goals.
But clearly, it’s all too easy to hamper ourselves by falling into the trap of righteously obsessing about our injuries or outrage. Yet the perils of succumbing to the place of acrimonious victimhood and ascribing to the rigid position of bitterness in your life invariably carry a high price tag. In fact, the price tag of bitterness will destroy any chance of you having a productive and powerful life of your own.
POINT TO PONDER:
Step out of bitterness into forgiveness today. Forgive the unforgivable. You can do it! You are reading this message because it’s time to free yourself from bitterness and forgive the unforgivable! I don’t know about you, family of God, but I just want to be free. Have a great day!
Quote: James Baker, Jr.: “Whatever it is in your life that has you bitter, let it go and allow God to make you better.”
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Chief Encouragement Officer (CEO) James Baker, Jr., and our leadership team are incredibly thankful to those aligned with us. Help us equip this generation of leaders for their God-given assignments. Your generous donation supports our labor of love: From Grace and Truth Leadership's mission to embrace, empower, and encourage leaders and emerging leaders globally
Leadership Lessons for a Lifetime: The Four Seasons!
A 365-day devotional for leaders who refuse to coast. Winter forms you in quiet; spring turns that growth into action; summer tests your endurance and integrity; fall teaches you to share the harvest and preserve your legacy.
Inside, you’ll find:
• 365 entries across Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall
• A Scripture, reflection, and action question each day
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• A progression from formation and growth to endurance and legacy.