You can’t afford bitterness

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CURRENT RADIO SERIES God's Secrets   CURRENT TV SERIES Unchained

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble… --Hebrews 12:15 There are people who are absolutely determined to hold onto the pain and hurt in their lives. It defines them and becomes the story of their life. But what they don’t know is that bitterness comes at a terrible price. That’s why I want you to understand what bitterness does to a person so you avoid it at all costs. Bitterness robs you of a healthy, growing relationship with God and chains you to the past. You can’t move toward your destiny in Christ Jesus if you are carrying the baggage of bitterness, anger, and resentment. Another thing bitterness does is contaminate your personality. When you become bitter, you become cynical and caustic. And a bitter person is a critical spectator at home, at work, at church, and wherever they go. Once bitterness has consumed you, it attacks your relationships. It will devour your marriage. And tragically, bitter people become bitter parents who produce bitter children. Listen, Satan sees a bitter person as his own trophy, because bitterness keeps a person from fully experiencing the love, grace, and power of Jesus Christ. In fact, it’s difficult to recognize the love and grace of God when your heart is the headquarters for hurt and hate. So don’t be Satan’s trophy. God can change the attitude you have regarding the hurt you suffered. Ask him to show you the root of your hurt. And when he shows you, ask him to help you to get past your past and embrace your destiny in him. BITTERNESS COMES AT A TERRIBLE PRICE. SO AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS!

Willing Sacrifices

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:1–2

There are times when even the best Christians are tempted to hold back on what they know they should do for God. They give less, work less, care less, and invest less in the lives of others than they could. There are many reasons for this, but the truth is that God deserves nothing less than the very best of all that we can do for Him. Yet too often we are reluctant to surrender to Him, and try to get away with giving and doing as little as possible.
I read a humorous story that illustrates this principle in action. A pilot and his navigator were shot down and had been surviving for a few days in a tiny life raft. They had no food or water left, and there seemed to be no hope that they would be rescued. Finally the pilot began to pray. “God, you know I haven't lived a very good life. I've been a miserable husband and a terrible father, I've cheated, lied and stolen, and haven't had any use for the church. But God, if you'll save us from dying out here, I promise I'll never...” Just then the navigator interrupted, “Don't say another word! I think I see land!”
The reality is that in light of the mercy of God that keeps us from the eternity in Hell we deserve, anything that God asks of us should be given freely and willingly. It is not in any way unreasonable for us to present even our lives as an offering of gratitude and praise for our salvation.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Nothing that we give back to God can be a true sacrifice, because everything already belongs to Him.