Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Someone said, ” No matter how long you nurse a grudge, it will never get better.”
We have all been there, someone does us wrong or disappoints us. When this happens, we have a choice to either forgive them or not. When we allow bitterness to take root in our hearts towards this person then it breeds grounds for un forgiveness to take reign.
The Greek work for bitterness in our key verse is the word “Prikia” which means poison, literally or figuratively.
When we open the door for bitterness to get in, we are basically poisoning ourselves even though for some reason we think we are doing it to the other person.
Bitterness leads to wrath and anger which are emotions of passion that fuel your bitterness to a whole new level. This will lead to clamor which is a loud continued noise, and evil speaking.
The remedy is to be kind and tender hearted meaning having compassion and being sympathetic to one another no matter the kind of offence done against us because this will lead to forgiveness which is what the father commands us to do for Jesus said;.
Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Reflections
Is there someone you are bitter with? What caused you to be bitter?
Knowing that bitterness is a poison, are you still going to hold on to it?
What must you do to turn that bitterness into kindness and tenderheartedness?
