I just love beginning new Bible Studies with all of its richness,
history and application. I always pray
before I choose another Bible Study since I know that God has certain spiritual
lessons He wishes to share with me. More
times than not, He will lead me into the same study for a second time. The study of the Book of Esther is a time
such as this. I went through this study
during my sister’s illness and remembered enjoying it, but at best it was a
story of a courageous woman. Today as I
begin the study again I am blown away that I failed to see one of the
overriding themes of this story – a heart
of bitterness that carried a deadly grudge.
Haman, the king’s highest ranked official at the time, was responsible
for putting into place the edict to destroy God’s people…all because of his
bitterness towards an earlier generation who murdered his family. It was something that was in the past, but
was propelling his heart into judgment and entitlement in the present. Haman was being led by bitterness over
something that was no longer active.
I use the word ‘active’ because it has a very special
meaning in my heart. There was a time
when I held much bitterness over the way a family member had treated me and
others in my family. It was a tough time
for us all and very poor decisions were made by some which wounded my heart and
left me with lots of anger. One day, as
determined by God, the season ended rather abruptly and life resumed to normal for
me with one exception…my heart was feasting on emotional leftovers…bitterness
and judgmental thoughts and words. One
day Bruce finally looked at me and stated, ‘Brenda, it is no longer active!’ These words gave me the freedom I had been
looking for in my forgiveness for this person.
Don’t get me wrong. Working
through these emotions and judgmental views of this person was one of the
hardest things I’ve ever done. But God will always require the tough work
when there is unforgiveness in our heart.
If we are still spouting off the things that are no longer active we
have handed over a stronghold to Satan. The words of Jesus resonate in my heart this
morning in considering the heart of hardness that I once possessed for this
person. ‘You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the
mouth speaks…But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of
judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and
by your words you will be condemned’ Matthew 12:34-37.
One day I will have to answer for the season when my heart
was hard and my words were condemning.
It didn't matter whether my feelings were justified or not. Our forgiveness is not based on justification, it is based on our obedience to God. Strongholds are areas where daily work must be completed for they are
the areas where Satan has the most control over our lives. God has shown me over and over again, there
is no room for bitterness regardless of what was done. Bitterness in any form builds a barrier
between our heart and the heart of God.
It is God’s job to judge and our duty to love.
What is no longer active in your life that you are feeding
on its emotional leftovers?
No comments:
Post a Comment