In Touch - Aug. 8, 2006

In Touch Daily Devotional 
by Dr. Charles Stanley

---

Tuesday August 8, 2006

A Bitter Root

Hebrews 12:15

 

Yesterday, we came to think of bitterness as a poison — a concoction that we create for someone else but then end up drinking ourselves. Today, let’s consider another useful illustration that will help us understand the effects of resentment.

 

Hebrews 12:15 describes bitterness as a “root.” Think about that. Where do you find roots? That’s right — they grow underground, sitting beneath the surface and siphoning off nutrients from the ground around them. Whenever you see a plant, flower, or tree, you can be sure that just below the peaceful façade is a root that is sucking life from the soil and pushing it up through the plant’s foundation. Without the root, the vegetation would collapse and die.

 

Can you see how this image parallels your spiritual life? Perhaps you have a root of bitterness that is sitting just under the surface, practically invisible to anyone who walks by. Does the fact that the bitter root is barely noticeable mean that it is inert and harmless? Absolutely not! Instead, you can be sure that the root is doing its job — sucking the life from you and using that to nourish a weed of hatred, impatience, or discontent.

 

A root of bitterness will never produce healthy fruit. When the seed, the soil, and the root are poor, it is senseless to expect anything other than bad fruit and a tangle of weeds.

 

Take heart! There is a remedy to the problem. All it takes to kill a weed is to unearth and dispose of the root. Pull the source of your resentment out of its hiding place. Bring it into the light; then, throw it away.

 

FEATURED PRODUCT

Summer Renewal Kit

Have you found yourself so busy with life that you are missing the little moments when God would like to meet with you? Let the Summer Renewal Kit  help you slow down... You will be surprised how these little moments with God can renew, recharge, and refresh your spirit! Order your Summer Renewal Kit here.

 

FEATURED PRODUCT

Facing Life’s Obstacles:

Learn that you can tackle any obstacle when relying on God’s power to give you courage and strengthen your faith. Order your copy here.

FEATURED RESOURCE

How strong is your faith? 

Your faith is often measured in how you handle adversity. Visit www.charlesstanleyinstitute.com and enroll in the free Faith Foundations course “Measuring Your Spiritual Growth.”

To see more resources from In Touch Ministries, please visit us at www.intouch.org  or go directly to our bookstore at In Touch Ministries.