February 11, 2025

LIVE IN PEACE WITH EVERYONE

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Hebrews 12:14-15 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

My first observation is that living in peace with everyone takes WORK! Every person is unique. They have different points of view, opinions, and backgrounds. I have discovered that in our present society it is easy to offend someone without knowing you are doing it. 

It appears from our passage today that living a holy life and living without bitterness is crucial to “living in peace with everyone.” Sin is the result of selfishness. When sin is present in our life, selfishness is present. When selfishness is present, we will have messed up relationships. 

When we are hurt or offended it is easy to allow bitterness to get in our hearts. We begin to replay the offense and what may have started out small becomes huge because we have rehearsed that offense and connected other comments to it to help it grow into a monster. It is easy to lose touch with reality because bitterness has clouded our judgment and made a mountain out of a mole hill.

There are many people walking around controlled by bitterness. Bitterness that is robbing them of peace and causing a lot of stress and anxiety. Sometimes they have lost so much self-awareness they don’t see what everyone else sees—a heart full of bitterness. If someone says something about it, they are quick to justify their feelings because of the actions of someone else. 

Bitterness is never justifiable. Let me restate that. There is no justification for living in bitterness. People don’t make us bitter. We choose to become bitter. We choose to obsess over the words or actions of others and allow bitterness to grow in our hearts. We must own our bitterness. We are the ones who accepted it, cuddled it, and fed it. 

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit please show me any bitterness in my heart. Today I ask You to forgive me for allowing bitterness in my heart. Empower me to release all bitterness and to live at peace with You, myself, and others. I refuse to make any room for bitterness in my life.

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”