Living A God Honoring Life

Sometimes it all too easy for us to become bitter about something.  Maybe someone has wronged us or something happened years ago that hurt us deeply.  We have all been hurt by someone at some point in our lives.  It can been very hard to forgive people especially when our hearts bear the deep scars from those wounds someone inflicted upon us.

The Lord calls us to forgive those who hurt us.  When we forgive someone that doesn't mean we say what they did was right.  It doesn't mean that at all.  When we truly forgive someone we are releasing them into God's hands.  When we hold onto anger and resentment we are only truly hurting ourselves, but when we forgive them we give them into the Lord's hands and pray that the Lord can reach that person in a way that only He can accomplish.

Sometimes when we allow bitterness to take deep root in our lives we try to stir the pot sort of speak and tell others about out bitterness in hopes of getting people to agree with our point of view.  Unfortunately there are times when certain people in churches like to spread gossip and false things to cause trouble.

Ephesians 4:17-32

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 
                                                                                                       

18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned

21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

26 “In your anger do not sin”^a : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.                            

The devil likes to use bitter church goers to spread dissension and there are some people who buy into that unfortunately.  We as believers in Jesus Christ must put off bitterness and anything that causes division in the church body.  We must cast off the old way of thinking before we knew Christ and put on our new self that is empowered by the Holy Spirit after we have come to faith in Christ Jesus.  

Let us no longer grieve the Holy Spirit by stirring up trouble within the church body by spreading our bitterness in hurtful and unproductive ways.  Instead let's love one another as the Lord Jesus so greatly loves us.  

Let's be kind to one another and full of compassion towards each other, forgiving each other, just as Jesus Christ forgave us.

It is easy to grumble and complain about people in our churches.  It is all too easy to complain about he church leadership because we think they should be doing more.  Maybe such people need to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and what HE would have them to do and do it rather than judging someone else's servant.  

May we focus on what the Lord wants us to do for Him and do it for His Glory, Honor, and Praise.

Lord,

We praise You.

You are Holy!

Forgive us for any bitterness that is in our hearts.

Help us not to be fault finders, but help us to be kind to each other.

Help us to be forgiving as You Lord Jesus have forgiven us.

Lead us and guide us by Your Spirit.

I pray for Pastors and people in church leadership positions who are experiencing attacks from the devil.

In Jesus Name we pray,

Amen.