You’ve all seen signs at the beach that say, “No Swimming Allowed”. Or, signs in public places that state, ‘No Loitering Allowed.”Well, God’s Word could have a big sign on its cover that says, “No Bitterness Allowed.”
God knows all about the nature of man. We can get angry and we can hold grudges. The Bible covers every scenario concerning the scope of man’s emotions – it goes against our natural tendencies to follows God’s ways above our own.
Luke 6:27,28 says, “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
This verse is very graphic in its description: there is no wiggle room to misinterpret what God is saying:
Enemy – A foe, one who hates another and wishes him injury, an adversary.
Hate – To dislike greatly, to have a great aversion to.
Curse – To issue a wish of evil against someone.
Despiteful – Full of spite; malicious.
These are the people that we are to love, – we are to do good to them, – we are to bless them, and to top it off – we are to pray for them. Now, if this doesn’t go against the very nature of man I don’t know what does! But, this is GOD’S WAY and if we are going to be living in God’s will than we must follow these instructions. To do any less is SIN. Don’t justify your feelings of anger and possibly thoughts of revenge because God clearly says to forgive them and love them.
Love, forgiveness, and kindness are always God’s way. Ephesians 4:32 sums it up quite nicely.
“And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you,.” God forgave us of our sins and clearly tells us we are to forgive others, (no matter how justified we may feel to be angry). To do any less is to be in direct disobedience to His Word!
Remember, “No Bitterness Allowed.” – Only love and forgiveness!
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