FOR JULY 10 : DON'T LET IT GROW

[cimi]

July 10
Thursday

READ:
Hebrews 12:14-25
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Looking carefully...
lest any root of
bitterness springing up
cause trouble, and by
this many become
defiled.
__Hebrews 12:15
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In June 1966, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a celebrated boxer, along with an acquaintance were convicted of murder in a highly publicized and racially charged trial. The boxer maintained his innocence and became his own jailhouse lawyer. After serving 19 years, Carter was released when the verdict was overturned. As a free man, he reflected: "Wouldn't anyone under those circumstances have a right to be bitter?... I've learned that bitterness only consumes the vessel that contains it. And for me to permit bitterness to control or infect my life in any way whatsoever would be to allow those who imprisoned me to take even more than... they've already taken."

I believe that bitterness is what the writer of Hebrews had in mind when he penned his warnings. In today's text, some of the christians may have been considering returning to Judaism because of persecution and injustice. Like a small root that grows into a great tree, bitterness could spring up in their hearts and overshadow their deepest Christian relationships (12:15).

When we hold on to disappointment, a poisonous root of bitterness begins to grow. Let's allow the Spirit to fill us so He can heal the hurt that causes bitterness. __Marvin Williams
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``````````````````When angry feelings go unchecked,`````````````
``````````````````````They'll mushroom into hate;````````````````
`````````````````````So don't let time feed bitterness__```````````
````````````````````Forgiveness must not wait. __Sper````````````
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Bitterness is a root that ruins the garden of peace.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Hebrews 12:14-25**********

14 Pursue peace with all
people, and holiness,
without which no one will
see the Lord: 15 looking
carefully lest anyone fall
short of the grace of God;
lest any root of bitterness
springing up cause trouble,
and by this many become
defiled; 16 lest there be any
fornicator or profane person
like Esau, who for one
morsel of food sold his
birthright. 17 For you know
that afterward, when he
wanted to inherit the
blessing, he was rejected,
for he found no place for
repentance, though he
sought it diligently with
tears.

18 For you have not come
to the mountain that may be
touched and that burned
with fire, and to blackness
and darkness and tempest,

19 and the sound of a
trumpet and the vocie of
words, so that those who
heard it begged that the
word should not be spoken
to them anymore....

22 But you have ocme to
Mount Zion and to the city
of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, to an
innumerable company of
angels, 23 to the general
assembly and church of the
firstborn who are registered
in heavaen, to God the Judge
of all, to the spirits of just
men made perfect, 24 to
Jesus the Mediator of the
new covenant, and to the
blood of sprinkling that
speaks better things than
that of Abel.

25 See that you do not
refuse Him who speaks.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Not only does the writer of the letter to the Hebrews challenge his
readers to avoid bitterness (v.15), but he also provides a positive
substitute. In verse 14, he reminds them (and us) to "pursue peace
with all people," a radical alternative to becoming bitter against
them. _Bill Crowder