Knowing God's Grace

 December 10, 2024

Tuesday

Hebrews 12:15 (NASB 2020) ¹⁵ See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

The person with the root of bitterness has held onto his or her hurt. That might mean that there is a lack of forgiveness. It may mean that there is a lack of recognition that these hurts are being held onto.

Life is not always sweet for any of us. There are disappointments that may start out small but grow bigger and bigger. The person who never got married may resent the loneliness. The person who considers himself ugly may resent the perceived rejection received from that ugliness. There may be no one to forgive. And that's why it is so hard to recognize.

Most people grew up with either an expectation in their lives in how their lives would turn out. The circumstances they have faced have prevented that expectation. Those who saw themselves as bosses are extremely discouraged to find that they have never been a boss. Those who saw themselves as rich are filled with despair in their poverty. Those who thought life will be grand when they have children running around in the house cry out to God, asking "why?" when they can't have children.

Noticing that others have those things they only hoped for makes things worse. It isn't that they necessarily begrudge those around them getting their hopes, they simply become bitter over the fact that these others got what they wanted and they didn't.

At the base of the root of bitterness is a belief that they didn't deserve the life they have. They see themselves as good as those who received what they never had. The bitterness comes against circumstances rather than others.

This is why an assessment of what has been given to them must always be addressed. Counting only the bad things that happen will bring about a root of bitterness. Acknowledging the good things that happen will dispel that bitterness. 

Recognize that all people have bad things happen. Those whom you know that don't appear to have bad things happening are not showing those bad things that have happened. They may be rich but have relationship problems. They may be famous but have no friends. They may appear to be the happiest people you have ever known but have been betrayed by those close to them. Their happy faces may be facades that cover up their disappointments.

What do you truly deserve? The answer will be different for each person. Some will say good health and enough money to make ends meet. Some will say a happy family and friends. The truth is that we think we have been good enough to deserve these things. But our own goodness has nothing to do with what happens in our lives. 

And so we miss God's grace. The very fact that you are reading this blog is a testimony to God's grace. Somehow you have had access to a computer. Somehow you went to school and learned to read. Somehow you have the leisure time to read this blog. God's grace is all around you. It is yours to share with others.

Knowing God's grace kills the root of bitterness.