It’s easy to allow
bitterness to grow. Years and years ago I had a falling out with my brother and
sister-in-law. They completely quit talking to me for a few years. I remember
growing bitter and angry. I nursed and rehearsed all of the things I would like
to say to them.
The unforgiveness
we spoke of yesterday and the bitterness that can grow when we are angry are
not healthy, and the Bible warns against these negative emotions. Our
irritations and our critical thoughts can become habits and grow into what the
Bible calls a bitter root.
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of
God, and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews
12:15
Not only do these
negative emotions harm ourselves as we allow them to eat away at us, but they
defile the people around us. All of us have known bitter and negative people
and their attitudes seep into the atmosphere around them. These verses will steer us in the right direction.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,
brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Jesus offers us forgiveness,
kindness and compassion. Give the same away to others, no matter how they treat
you. Not easy, but it will bless you and others.
Father,
Help us to forgive and to remove any bitter root or anger
against others. When we are hurt, allow us to give it to You to work out for
us. We trust You.
In Jesus name,
Amen
True forgiveness is an impossible human trait. When we are
betrayed by someone we love, or abandoned or abused by others, our first
emotion is to strike back to hurt or harm or to turn others against that
person. You have heard the story of the little boy that was thrown over the
balcony at the Mall of America by someone that randomly chose him. He admitted
he was out to kill someone that day.
This young child
lived through it, but has a very long and difficult road to travel. Imagine the
thoughts of his family. Instead of lashing out, they forgave. They put their
trust where it belongs. In Jesus. Their example and their response is possible
only through the love of Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
No matter what life
throws at us, (we will all be hurt) we need to turn our focus on Jesus. He will
work things out in His own way and in His own time. One day, everything will be
sorted out in a fair and just manner.
Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what
is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on
you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but
leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, “It is mine to avenge. I will
repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:17-19
The Lord always
takes care of His own. Place your trust in Him. Live in peace, as far as you
are able, with everyone and wait on Him.
Lord,
It is hard to forgive in our hearts. Show us how to do just
that and give it all to You. You will make all things right. Show us the way to
peace.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Earlier in the
week, I mentioned my love of rocks. Most of the rocks in my gardens are nondescript,
pretty basic in hues of gray or beige. In addition to the rocks in my garden, I
appreciate the stones in my ring that symbolize my love for my husband. The
gemstones available to us are beautiful and precious. Can you imagine what our
new heaven and new earth will be like?
God gives us
glimpses in his word. The heavenly city will be made of precious stones and in
the following descriptions from the book of Revelation, we can try to envision
our future home.
The imagination of
our most creative artist could never capture what heaven will be like. I imagine the
colors, the sights and sounds will be unlike anything we have seen or
experienced here. The colors will be infinitely brighter and bolder and more
precious than our most expensive stones. Here is the description of the holy,
heavenly city.
It shone with the glory of God, the brilliance was
like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. Revelation
21:11
The wall was made of jasper and the city of pure
gold as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with
every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second
sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby,
the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise,
the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve
pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of
gold, as pure as transparent glass. Revelations 21:16-21
We can only
imagine.
Father,
Our heavenly home will be more than all we hope or imagine. As
we await the day of our homecoming, help us to appreciate Your miraculous
creation surrounding us now. We take so much for granted. Keep our faith strong
and solid, built on our Rock, Jesus. And in His name, we pray.
Amen
Whatever path you are on, Jesus is making a way ahead. Believe
it! He is always a few steps ahead of us. He understands what comes next and He
will figure it out. God takes care of His own and you are His beloved child.
The path of the righteous is level. You, the Upright
One make the way of the righteous smooth. Isaiah 26:7
I love the thought
of Jesus smoothing the way, removing those rocks and boulders, making the road
level and safe for us. Not only will He smooth the path ahead, but He will shed
light on the darkness surrounding us.
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them. I will turn the darkness into light
before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do. I
will not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16
Remember,
Jesus leads us along unfamiliar paths. Do not be afraid. He will be your guide.
He is smoothing the path ahead and lighting the way. His Word is one of the
many ways He leads us.
Your Word is a lmap to my feet and a light to my
path. Psalm 119:105
Find some light
today for your soul. We all need it. Trust Him to smooth the rough places
ahead. He is there right ahead, paving the way.
Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Let us remember to let You lead as we
try to stumble our way on the paths of life.
Amen
Is it time to let
something go and begin again? Time to tear something down and rebuild? Change
may be welcomed. Change may be frightening. Change may be necessary, but
difficult. Change may come out of nowhere and face us with challenges ahead. Is
it time to accept something new?
A time to cast away stones and a time to gather
stones together. Ecclesiastes 3:5a
The verse above
comes from the familiar Chapter of Ecclesiastes 3. (Also familiar from a song
by The Byrds in 1965 titled, “Turn! Turn! Turn.”) There is a season for
everything in life. What does it mean to cast away stones and to gather stones?
There are varying
opinions and commentaries on this particular verse. One way of looking at casting
away stones is to think of physically tearing down an old building or to remove
something no longer necessary or useful, to cast away something or someone
harmful, to throw out the old and welcome the new.
Gathering stones to
rebuild our foundation of faith may be necessary after a time of letting go or
grieving. What will life look like with the changes surrounding us? Have we
lost our trust in Jesus? When we lose our way, He waits for us to return to
Him. He will help us rebuild and weather
the storm, offering us the firm foundation of faith.
Building and
rebuilding our faith on the Rock, allows us to keep gathering and regathering the
stones of faith. As we gather His Words into our hearts and follow Him, we need
not fear the changes in life.
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine
and puts them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on the
rock.” Matthew 7:24
Lord,
Whatever choices we need to make, You are ready as our Rock,
our firm foundation to help us rebuild, to show us the way, to help us gather
the stones needed to remain safe and steadfast in Your care.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Have you stumbled through life a time or two? Fallen down with
no idea how to get up and begin again? Walking with hesitation comes naturally
to a legally blind person like me. In life, there will be times we lose the
road ahead. The next step is too high, too hard, too precarious. Sitting
immobile, fear-bound, leaves us trapped in one spot.
Luckily, Jesus
offers us a way up, a way around, or a way over the next rocky road ahead. As
parents, we hope our kids have an easy life, don’t we? We long to protect them,
to cushion the blow, to take the pain from them. The pain they feel becomes ours, the joy they
experience fills us to the brim.
Christ does the
same for us. His protection, His strength, and His love are deeper and more
profound than the greatest parent’s protection, strength and love. Sorrow and
suffering will often be our closest companions. With hindsight and perspective,
we begin to understand. Wisdom and strength often come from the tough times. Sacrifice and weakness bring us to rely on Jesus more as we become
witnesses to His goodness and His never-ending hope. Jesus pulls us out.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud
and mire. He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:
As we
stand still in His protection, we are safe in His refuge. He will let us know
when it is time to move on, to move unto the next stepping stone. The obstacles
and rocky spots in life can bring the deepest blessings. I read this quote many
years ago:
“If God removed the rocks, a brook would lose its song.”
God will use the
rocks along the way, until our life unfolds into one beautiful song. Yes, some
of the notes will be minor and forlorn. But the refrain will resound in the
major notes of praise and worship as we take the path to our heavenly home.
Father,
You know the end from the beginning. We trust You to pick us
up, to brush us off, and to find the
next step when we are ready. You are the Rock and our salvation.
In Jesus name,
Amen
I love rocks.
Typically, on our vacations, I will slip a small rock into my suitcase to add
to my garden. There is just something about them, as you kindred rock lovers will
understand.
The image of God is
represented as a rock over and over again in the Bible.
Truly He is my rock and my salvation. He is my
fortress. I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:2
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord
Himself is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:4
The
Israelites followed ancient customs and set up standing stones to commemorate
God’s miracles among them. Jacob set up standing stones to remember his dream
in Genesis 28 and 35. Moses built twelve
standing stones at the foot of Mount Sinai after receiving the ten commandments
in Exodus 24. Standing stones were left
after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan river in Joshua 4.
Listen to Peter’s
description of both Christ and His believers in the New Testament:
As you come to Him, the living Stone-rejected by
humans but chosen by God and precious to Him-you also, like living stones, are
being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5
We no longer need
outward traditions or physical monuments or laws on stones to be acceptable to
our holy God. Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice. He is the living stone and
our spirits are alive and well forever because of Him. Stand tall in your
confidence in Christ, our rock and our salvation. We are His representatives in
a world gone mad. You are a spiritual stone being built for your eternal home.
Lord,
We are living spiritual stones building the house of God. Help
us to tell others of Your unending promises offered as a free gift to all who
will come to You through Jesus.
Amen
