Getting Rid of Bitterness

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:31–32

I’m not sure what your relationship with coffee is. Many people love it. Others take one sip and wonder what all the fuss is about. Coffee can be bitter. So can grapefruit, arugula, or very dark chocolate.

Maybe your tastes have changed over the years. As a child, you tried something bitter, made a face, and vowed never to eat it again. But over time, you got used to the taste. You may even have learned to enjoy it.

We don’t want that to happen with bitterness of spirit. Bitterness can become familiar. We replay what someone said. We remember how unfairly we were treated. We look for payback. We may not exactly . . . . “enjoy” living that way, but we can become so accustomed to resentment that we hardly notice how much space it has taken up in our outlook on life.

Scripture says, “Get rid of all bitterness.” It points us to Jesus, “… forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” That is the context of our forgiveness. More than just forgiving for our own psychological well-being, we forgive as forgiven children of God. Because of Jesus, God holds nothing against you. You live each day as someone fully forgiven and dearly loved.

And from that peace comes new kindness and compassion, the marks of a Christian at peace in his or her Savior. You don’t need to acquire a taste for bitterness. In Christ, you can let it go.