Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Conflict”
Our Bible verse for today: “Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.” Hebrews 12:15 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Negative emotions fuel conflict”
In Hebrews 12:15 the writer cautioned his readers to make sure that no root of bitterness was allowed to exist in their hearts because from it, will spring trouble that will ultimately defile many. A root is the unseen portion of the plant that provides the structure and support needed for it to exist. The root is what draws the minerals and water from the soil to feed the plant. Without the root, the plant will wither and die.
Conflict is like that. Conflict springs from a root of bitterness in the heart. But it can only live if it is fed. Negative emotions are the thing the root of bitterness feeds on. If we harbor negative emotions about a person or a situation, we are in effect nurturing that root of bitterness deep within us, and on the surface, the conflict not only sprouts, but it grows like a weed.
That’s why in Ephesians 4:31 Paul writes, “All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice.” (HCSB). The fact that we are instructed to remove it must mean that it can be removed. How? By bringing it to Jesus.
In yesterday’s devotional message we noted that all conflict has it’s origin in Satan. The devil is the source. We also learned that conflict is inconsistent with the Fruit of the Spirit. And so we bring the situation before the Lord, ask Him to bind Satan and to thwart his influence in the situation, and then we invite the Holy Spirit to rule and reign in our own lives and in the lives of the people on the other side of the issue.
The conflict may still persist if the people on the other side don’t give it to Jesus too, but at least we will have done our part to help resolve it and at least we will not be harboring a root of bitterness about it in our own heart. Negative emotions fuel conflict. So get rid of the negative emotions.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 