Lay the Axe to Roots of Bitterness

A few days ago I wrote about the need to cut ourselves, our families and our nation free from anger and wrath. Paul noted, therapeutically, that it is OK to get mad but not to let the sun go down on our bitterness. Long term wrath is deeadly.

Today I received a wonderful newsletter that says it well. Enjoy!

Monday - March 21, 2005

“As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made me taste bitterness of soul, as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit.” - Job 27:2-4

In 1824, the Prussian government decreed that a long-standing practice that Non-Christians could not attend schools was to be enforced. A Jewish attorney named Hirschel, who lived in Trier, Germany, converted to Christianity in order not to be discriminated.

Hirschel’s six-year old son Karl could not understand the situation. The boy asked his father: "Why must we surrender our Jewish faith and start to attend Lutheran services here in Germany?”

The father replied, "Son, we must abandon our faith so that people will accept us and support our business adventures!" The young lad never got over his disappointment and bitterness. His faith in his father and in his religion were crushed.

After Karl graduated from the Berlin University, he went to England to study at the British Museum where he formed his philosophies for life. From those intensive investigations he wrote a book that changed the world called, "The Communist Manifesto”. From that book one-third of the world fell under the spell of godless Marxist ideology. The name of that little boy was Karl Marx. He influenced billions of lives for more than 100 years and brought to them ruin, imprisonment and death.

Whatever bitterness you have tasted, do not let it wickedness or deceit consume you. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that in Christ, you are a victor over all sin and death and pray that bitterness does not take a hold of you.

“Bitterness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” - Ron McManus,

God’s Word: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” - Ephesians 4:31

Chuck Clarkwww.StationedHere.com