Get Rid of Anger and Bitterness – It’s a Command
Earlier I shared a post about anger. In it I said, “Feelings of anger are not sin. But for us who claim Christ, choosing to be angry or bitter is sin. Choosing not to forgive others is sin. Choosing to stay there will not help us and it will hinder our relationships with God and with others.”
Sweet friends, I know the loss of your child or loved one is painful. Grief is hard! I know it’s easy to be angry and bitter when others hurt us, when they purposely insult or ignore us. Forgiveness is not easy.
Yet God does not give us an out when it comes to His commands. He never says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, unless your loved one died. Be kind and compassionate to one another, unless you’re hurting. Forgive others, unless you are grieving. Love others as I have loved you unless they have been mean to you and slandered your name.”
No! God knew it will be hard for us to be kind and forgive others. In fact, without Christ it’s almost impossible! But God gave us the Holy Spirit to live in us. To teach us. To help us obey His commands.
We are told in many places in the Bible that we must get rid of bitterness and anger. We must forgive others as we ourselves have been forgiven. Ephesians 4:31-32, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you,” is just one example.
Colossians 3 gives even stronger commands, “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips…Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:8, 12-14)
This is not optional; it is command from God written in His Word.
My heart is grieved when I hear hurting people tell others, “It’s ok to be bitter. It’s ok to be angry. You have every right to be angry and bitter.”
Friends, if I claim Christ, if I claim to be a Christian, I am to die to my self. I am to forgive others. I am to consider the interests of others even as I grieve. (Philippians 2:3-4)
If I am a follower of Jesus, I have given up all my rights. I am bought with a price – with the blood of Jesus on the cross. His precious blood bought me. I am now His. I must obey His commands rather than choose my own way of living.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 | NIV
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My prayer for each us today is that we take time to pray and ask God to help us obey His commands. I pray that we will forgive those who have hurt us in our pain, who have offended us or not responded in ways we would have liked. I pray we will each choose forgiveness and reject bitterness. In the name of our Lord and Savior, I pray. Amen.
Bible study, Christianity, forgiveness, healing in grief
lynnabbottstudios
Amen! Powerful truth from the Word of God! Thank you!
KathleenBDuncan
God’s Word is powerful!
Lureta
Choose forgiveness and reject bitterness..i love that! It creates such freedom in our lives and frees our heart for God to work in and through us. Great post!
KathleenBDuncan
Thank you.
Being free from bitterness does free us to live as God intends us to live.
Edith
You’re right, Kathleen! It’s hard but doable by God’s grace and facilitates the healing of our hearts. It opens us up to receive the comfort of the Holy Spirit. xoxo
KathleenBDuncan
Only with God’s grace.
rogerholmack
Working thru your anger is so important. It’s difficult in grief but it needs to be done for your own good and christ can help you with it.
KathleenBDuncan
It isn’t easy to forgive. I rarely feel like it. But, you’re right, working through my anger needs to be done.
Christina
Thank you for sharing this command. I learned the hard way years ago how toxic holding on to anger can be. It hurts our relationships and our health.
KathleenBDuncan
It does hurt us. It hurts us when the person we are angry with has gone on to find peace and joy.