Remove the Root of Bitterness

Have you ever pulled up a bush that had deep roots? It takes a lot of work. You have to dig around the plant and then chop the roots in half. If the bush has been in the ground for a long time those roots are well established. It is just as tough to remove the root of bitterness that can take root in our hearts. Deep pain and hurt cause deep roots to grow. The writer of Hebrews helps us with how to remove the root of bitterness.

“Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness — without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.” ‭‭

How do you remove the root of bitterness? The author of Hebrews gives us the answer right here. Pursue peace and holiness, walk in the grace of God, and uproot those roots of bitterness. Seem like a lot? Let me help you unpack this passage. First, we are to pursue peace. This means that we need to do everything in our power to have good relationships with those in our lives. We are to be kind and loving to those who have hurt us, we need to go the extra mile to those who use us, and we have to pray for those who are against us. This may not change much between you and that person, but it will change your heart.

The second way we remove the root of bitterness is to pursue holiness. Being wronged does not make it right for us to sin. We can’t rationalize our actions if they go against God’s word. We need to continue to be obedient to God’s word. This plays into the next step we need to take. We need to understand that we fall short of God’s grace on a daily basis. When it says that we need to “make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God” that means that we need to keep up with His grace. We need to confess our sins and receive His forgiveness. Failure to do that will cause a root of bitterness to take root.  That will cause a whole host of other problems. Many have been taken down from a root of bitterness. Uproot it today by confessing your sins and making things right with those who you are at odds with.