Folly of Bitterness
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice.
Ephesians 4:31
Two shopkeepers owned stores directly across the street from each other. Each spent his days tracking the other's business, and gloating triumphantly each time a customer chose his own store. Over time, they became bitter rivals.
One night an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers and said, "I'll give you anything you request, but whatever you receive, your competitor will receive double. Would you be rich? You can be very rich indeed, but he'll be twice as wealthy. Do you desire a long and healthy life? Request it, but his life will be longer and healthier. What's your desire?"
The man thought for a moment, and with a sly grin, stated, "Strike me blind in one eye!"
Bitterness is relentless and dangerous when allowed to take root in our hearts. It destroys decision-making abilities and compromises otherwise focused and productive lives. Its only remedy is forgiveness—given freely by Jesus Christ. And if you believe the Bible, we are to dispense it generously to others.
Take a step out of bitterness into forgiveness today. Forgive the unforgivable. You can do it!
"We forgive to the extent that we love."
- La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680)
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Taken from The Life Recovery Devotional: Thirty Meditations from Scripture for Each Step in Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. Copyright © 1991 by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
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