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.


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