Free from Bitterness and Filled with Joy

            Have you had your JOY JUICE today?  Ephesians 4 is a power-packed chapter of instruction for those who want to become more like Christ and spread His JOY.

Look at verse 31: ”Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”

 Paul first mentions bitterness in that verse.  When a person becomes offended and doesn’t deal with that offense correctly, it becomes embedded in the heart and soul….and turns into bitterness. If we’re not careful, we can become so inwardly infected with bitterness that we are outwardly affected in our appearance and disposition. Then comes the rage, anger, slander and maybe, even brawling that the scripture refers to.

It’s time for a self-examination!  If you find yourself constantly saying negative things about someone who has offended you or upset you in the past it may be that a root of bitterness is trying to grow inside your heart!  That’s when it’s time to call The Master Surgeon and repent before Him; ask Him to rip those destructive roots clean out of your heart.  If we don’t, the roots of bitterness will go down deep into the soil of our soul, and eventually we will be filled with bitter fruit.

God, please replace any bitter fruit in our lives with sweet, Christ-like fruit which, of course, includes the fruit of joy!

  As words flow from our lips today, may we be prayerful and careful that they are free from bitterness and filled with joy.