Bitterness

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Have you ever encountered a person who is always irritated, always angry, with uncontrollable tongue, and always burning with fury? It is easy when you are driving during rush hours. But even then, you can always meet a person with a negative attitude and they are very, very contagious. Smiling is contagious but negativity infects to a large degree. Quite frankly, I am a very vulnerable person for contamination, and I easily become angry too.

As I read our text today (vv. 17-32), the Lord showed me that bitterness is one of the enemy’s strongest arsenals of fire power against Christians in the emotional realm. If we don’t let go of the negative attitudes listed above, we are actually grieving the Holy Spirit who is living in us (v. 30), and we can blast off and destroy a whole lot of relationships – in the family, in the church, in circle of friends, in our workplace, wherever. Simply because, they are things of the Devil and they should not co-exist with the Holy Spirit in us! So, we are commanded to “get rid of all bitterness”, tied with it rage, anger, harsh words, slander, and “all” types of evil behavior. We need to wipe them out with kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness – only three things, but can clean out all sorts of dirt in our attitudes and emotions.