Have you discovered how subtly bitterness can sneak in to your soul?

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.  See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”  -Hebrews 12:14-15

Peace, holiness, grace and bitterness.  Four words; four massive ideas.

Peace-making may lead some to flirt with moral compromise in the name of “tolerance” or “not offending.”  Yet, God does not cease to be holy so others can have peace with Him.  Therefore, neither should we.

We must learn to still pursue a righteous life and admonish others to do the same, and the way this is possible is through the grace of God.

We must first receive His grace, “obtain” it, as the Word says.  Only after we have understood and acted on our own need for the grace of God will we be able to share it with others.

Receiving His grace protects and insulates us both from feelings of failure when we don’t measure up to God’s holiness, and feelings of pride when we do.  If we are not walking in His grace, then we will be a slave to our own moral performance, and will inevitably seek to put others under the same sentence.

This will almost always lead to bitterness, a deep seething resentment either towards God because we can’t live up to His standards, or to others because they can’t live up to ours.  From there it spreads and “many become defiled.”

O, may we learn to obtain that sweet and sure antidote and share it with as many as we can.

Let us walk in grace.