Pursue Peace

Pursue peace with everyone, and 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 through it many become defiled. See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal. You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing with tears.

You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.)” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven!

Hebrews 12:14-25

In 1966 Rubin “Hurricane” Carter was convicted of murder. He was a celebrated boxer. After serving nineteen years in prison, the verdict was overturned and he was released. He noted he had the right to be bitter, but he was not. He noted that bitterness “only consumes the vessel that contains it.” It may be that bitterness is what the writer of Hebrews had in mind when he wrote his warnings. In that time, some of the Christians may have been considering returning to Judaism because of persecution and injustice. Like a small root that grows into a great tree, bitterness could spring up in their hearts and overshadow their deepest Christian relationships.

When we hold on to disappointment, a poisonous root of bitterness begins to grow. Allow the Spirit to fill you up so He can heal the hurt that causes bitterness.

Bitterness is a root that ruins the garden of peace.

Our Daily Bread – July 10, 2008