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Hebrews 12:15 “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.” (NIV)
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Here is an experiment to try: Fill a cup with water. Estimate its weight. Is it 8 ounces? 12 ounces? That’s not very heavy, is it? Now pick up the cup and hold it up at arm’s length. Hold it there for one minute; now two minutes; now fifteen minutes. What happens if you hold that cup up for an hour?
You know the answer. The glass will feel heavier and heavier. Yet you know it is not changing. *You* are changing! Your arm is fighting against the force of gravity, and this will wear you down. If you don’t rest your arm, you will become unable to function.
It’s like that with loads we carry within us. I’m thinking of unforgiveness. Even a small seed of resentment can, over time, become an unbearable load. Harboring unforgiveness, even if we don’t realize it, is like holding up that cup of water without ever resting our arm. Over time the offenses pile up. We find ourselves fighting powerful forces that work against us - such as embitterment, revenge, negativity, and self-righteous justification. This zaps our spiritual vitality. It causes trouble in our relationships; it harms our health. It distances us from others and from God. Unforgiveness defiles us and those around us. It hinders us from living fruitfully as ministers of reconciliation among fellow sinners. In this condition we cannot fulfill our calling as God’s kingdom people.
No wonder the writer of Hebrews cautions God’s people to watch out for any bitter root. And no wonder God has been working in this area in my life. I’ve come to see that it is not the perceived offenses against me that weigh me down. It’s the bitter roots that remain. It’s never pleasant to have these little “roots” exposed by the Spirit; but it is for my good. Whenever I sense a little root, no matter how minor it seems, I’ve chosen to take it seriously. I’m learning to hand it over to Jesus quickly and rest in Him. My job is to remain yoked to Him and let Him carry the full weight of the load. He can help me manage every wrong committed against me, no matter how serious it is. That frees me to live joyfully in God’s merciful and generous grace - free from any load that may hinder me from fulfilling my destiny.
Perhaps you would like to join me in this prayer: O Lord, I hunger for Your liberating grace and peaceful rest. Forgive me for how I’ve rejected Your grace by harboring a spirit of unforgiveness. I crave to be set free from all defiling roots. Liberate me so that I may walk fully in Your grace and in that way be a visual aid of Your mercy and lovingkindness to fellow sinners. In Jesus name, Amen.
DE