My life (put) alongside God's word. Protecting peace section.
“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many”. Hebrews 12:15.
“Bitterness” is being very angry when things upset you. The Bible warns bitterness is a root that grows into big trouble if it is not dealt with.
The fighting of December 2013 to March/April 2014 has left many South Sudanese with hugely bitter feelings.
I have seen many pictures from the Kenana sugar
company’s website and read articles about the company in magazines. I have never been to that area of Sudan. I understand that the production area is nearly 280km south from Khartoum, amid the clay plains between the rivers Blue Nile and White Nile. I have seen many Sudanese and South Sudanese putting spoons full of sugar into their tea!
Sugar is very sweet! I suggest both South Sudan and Sudan need what I will call: “Kenana Christians” – that is, believing women and men who will choose to reject all forms of
bitterness and cultivate loving, kind, gentle, attractively fragrant and pleasant lives. How would others describe you and your life? Would they say you come across as bitter or
as sweet?
I know it it difficult to live this way, but true Christian living is a life in which I choose against my natural, human reactions, and deliberately choose to live God’s planned way for my life. Our Lord Jesus Christ did say: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself take up his cross daily and follow Me”. Luke 9:23.
Meditate also on these other Bible passages:
“All are under sin …. their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness”, Romans 3:9 and Romans 3:14.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice”, Ephesians 4:31.
“But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it and deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is “earthly” unspiritual and of the devil”, James 3:14-15.
Keep thinking about the roots of bitterness every time you stir some sugar into your tea! Ask God to put the sweetness of the Holy Spirit of Jesus into every part of your life. He
can. And He will. It is as easy for Him to do so as it is for you to pick up your spoon and stir.