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Recently, I heard something on the news that caused great disdain to rise up in my heart. Thankfully, in His mercy, the Lord was able to get my attention . . . Let’s not fool ourselves! Even if those relationships are distant and not so personal, whenever we entertain bitterness towards another, the enemy always wins. Truly, when we are passionate about something, anger can rise up towards ones who we feel are opposing it. Passion is good—the Lord delights in our whole-hearts! Yet, we must ever be on guard against that thing we are warned can defile us. The apostle Paul warned: “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;” (Hebrews 12:15 NASB) Most importantly, however, Jesus issued us the standard: “‘But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.’” (Matthew 5:44-45 NKJV) “‘And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.’” (Mark 11:25-26 NKJV) Surely then, there is no room for bitterness if we profess to follow Christ. Jesus’s walk was, for us, the example—and the standard He set for love is high (Jn. 13:15; 1 Pet. 2:21; 1 Jn. 2:6). He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. People question God’s goodness because of the sufferings they see around them. They ask: If God is so good and if God is so loving, then why would He allow such evil in this world? Why would He let such bad things happen? My answer: Because our relational God, desiring real relationship, has given to us a choice—that we might choose to love Him. Consequently then, in this world we may be touched with sufferings and the consequences of other people’s choices. It is as a result of man's original sin that there are troubles and injustices in this world (Rom. 5:12-19; 8:18-22)! Even so, God still is greater and He must choose to allow things (1 Cor. 10:13), with the promise of His continual oversight to be working things for our good (Rom. 8:28). God’s ways just are higher than ours—and it is there that we must learn to trust Him. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9 NKJV) Moreover, will a man blame God? Should He have to answer to us? Although God loves us so greatly and often graciously chooses to reason with us, still we must be careful and should check what is in our hearts (Is. 45:9-10). The fact is, my God is a loving God who deeply cares about each soul (Ps. 145:8-9). He is touched by our sorrows, and His heart is always for us. This is why He sent us His Son. He sent His Son Jesus to restore unto us LIFE—so that we might have it more abundantly (Jn. 10:10; Jn. 3:16; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:4). What’s more, Jesus came to us in the flesh—He was as a man (Phil. 2:6-7)—and in all points He was tried, just as we are. He, therefore, can wholly relate to us and to whatever the challenge we may face. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15 NKJV) “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:7-8 NKJV)  “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:3-5 NKJV So to those of you who may be questioning, know that your questionings are heard. Also know that the LORD loves you, the LORD values you, and Jesus died for you to give you peace. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8 NKJV) Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) |
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