Don't Drink this Poison!

We all have to go through things in life that are unfair … that are difficult and that are even cruel at times … but let me give you a word of advice … don’t drink the poison!

We all have difficult people in our lives who say the wrong thing … who don’t live up to our expectations … and who frequently disappoint us … but let me remind you … don’t drink the poison!

If your life is spiraling out of control and your frustration level is at an all-time high … if no one understands you and you are not sure if anyone actually cares about what you are going through … please … whatever you do … don’t drink the poison!

This poison that is a strong temptation to drink at moments of frustration, anger and disappointment is the poison known as justifiable bitterness.

Bitterness.  Don’t do it!  Don’t drink that vile poison even if it seems justifiable!

“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.” – Hebrews 12:15

The truth of this particular and powerful verse written by Paul and the Holy Spirit is that you have 2 choices in life … you can either exhibit the grace of God … or you can embrace bitterness.

Which will it be?  Because it will be one or the other!

You will either drink the poison of bitterness or you will exhibit the grace of God.  It’s up to you, dear friend, but take a wise word from the voice of experience … I would not advise imbibing in poison. 

Wouldn’t advise it at all!

The fatal problem of drinking the poison of bitterness is that the drinker assumes that bitterness is going to injure the person who has caused the initial hurt … but it doesn’t.  All bitterness does is injure the one who has chosen to drink from its lethal cup.  Bitterness paralyzes the very life of the one who has chosen to partake of this foul substance.

The word for bitterness in this verse is the Greek word “pikria”.  “Pikria” literally means, “an inward attitude that is so bitter, it produces a scowl on one’s face.”

Now that doesn’t paint a pretty picture, does it?!

This word “pikria” can also describe a root so bitter and diseased that it is only able to produce bitter fruit.

The fruit of bitterness is in total opposition to the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

The fruit of the Holy Spirit produces glorious and beautiful fruit.  Bitterness produces poison and vicious toxins.

The fruit of the Spirit produces love … bitterness produces hate and malice.

The fruit of the Spirit gives birth to joy … but bitterness begets depression and gloom.

The fruit of the Spirit launches a bumper crop of peace… but bitterness is only able to produce confusion.

The fruit of the Spirit gives way to a veritable harvest of patience … while bitterness raises an entire crop of frustration and anger.

The fruit of the Spirit produces kindness and goodness … bitterness treats everyone in its trouble-laden pathway with scorn and sarcasm.

The fruit of the Spirit has as its healthy and beautiful byproduct the fruits of faithfulness and gentleness … but bitterness invariably yields instability and harsh treatment.

The fruit of the Spirit breeds the majestic product of self-control … but bitterness propagates rampant and uncontrolled behavior.

Don’t.  Drink.  The.  Poison!!

When life is bitter … you should not become bitter yourself.

When life is horrible … you should not become horrible yourself.

When life is wicked … you should not become wicked yourself.

Bitterness is not, nor will it ever be, a mere benign drink.  Bitterness is not the placid beverage of milk nor is it the revitalizing liquid of fruit juice.

Bitterness is poison; it always produces and is only able to produce that which it is compromised of.  Bitterness will perpetually produce poison in your life.

It’s poison.  It’s a cancer of the soul.  It’s wickedness in its rawest form.

If you are inwardly infected with bitterness, then it won’t be long before bitterness affects your outward behavior. That’s what poison does.  Poison kills whatever is lovely, generous and gracious.

Don’t drink the poison!

“I will wander about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.” – Isaiah 38:15

Do you want to know what else bitterness does in an otherwise healthy life?  It will cause a person to lose clear direction along life’s pathway.

Bitterness is not a trustworthy map nor is it a reliable GPS but, according to the Bible, bitterness will stir up confused direction in your soul.  Bitterness skews the signals coming in from the Holy Spirit.

An embittered person will never reach their God-ordained destiny because all of life is now seen through the dark fog of bitterness.

Bitterness is as black as night and is a tool of the enemy to confuse and distort otherwise sensible direction.

Don’t drink the poison!

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” – Ephesians 4:31

Only you are able to decide what you will drink as you go through life.  I can’t choose for you … your circumstances don’t dictate your choice … and your mama can’t do it either.

The Holy Spirit can instruct you … I can coach you … but the glass is in your hand, my friend.  Will you drink it or not?

Will you take a healthy dose of the grace of God and share it with the frustrating, disappointing world around you?  Or, will you drink the poison?

The world is desperately thirsty for a man or a woman who chooses to exhibit grace in spite of ill treatment and unfair circumstances.

The world is dehydrated for just a drop of the grace and mercy that you are able to offer.

The people with whom you come in contact are parched and aching for nothing more than just a small swig of the grace of God.

The glass is in your hand, my friend.  What will you drink?  What will you offer?