|
Pastor Bob's Two Minute Devotion
Don't nurse and rehearse old injuries
We can tell a lot about people when we listen to the tales they repeat (and repeat and repeat).
Fanning the flame of discontent keeps the fire alive
long after it should have been extinguished.
In the letter to the Hebrews chapter12, Paul calls it a "bitter root" which grows up to cause trouble, to entangle and defile us. (verses 1 and 15)
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud
of witnesses, let us throw off everyting that hinders an the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter
root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
We need to ask ourselves, do we get a strange enjoyment out of remembering and repeating the tale? What will it take for us to let go of this old injury? How many times should we forgive?
Peter struggled with this concept and he asked Jesus about it.
Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many
times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
What in your life have you carried long after the 'expiration date'?
Whatever the problem might have been at the beginning, and regardless of who was at fault, the fact that you are still carrying the grudge places the sin on your own heart. The time has come to let go and turn it over to the Lord.
Help me Lord, to open my hands and let you take this burden from my grasp.
Letting go,
Pastor Bob and Marion Rieth
Psalms 28:3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil, who speak cordially with their neighbors but harbor malice in their hearts.
|
