Root Removal

Root Removal
Hebrews 12:15 (King James Version) “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled" “

Did you ever thank God for your mind?”shouted a man behind the bars of a window in a mental institution. The two stout gentlemen VISITING from America stopped and looked at each other. The one that was over six feet tall said to the shorter one, “You know, I never have” and right there on the gravel road Ira Sankey and D.L. Moody knelt and thanked God.

The purpose of this Freedom Fighter is to encourage you to use thankfulness to win the Victory over bitterness. In the book of Romans1:21 is written, “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened."

When we fail to be thankful we soon become ungrateful and resentful. Throughout the Bible people often found themselves unthankful. Eve, with the whole garden to eat from, found that the one tree that God had denied them was the only one that she wanted. She knew God but was not thankful. (Genesis 3) King Ahab was not satisfied with all that came with being King. He wanted his neighbor’s vineyard.

When Naboth the Jezreelite refused to sell the vineyard to the king, Ahab(D) went into his house vexed and sullen and lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food. Jezebel ordered Naboth murdered such is the forces of ingratitude. (1Kings 21) After David’s great sin Nathan, the prophet, accused David of ingratitude by the story he told. A rich man had many sheep and guests came but he would not take from his own flock but took his neighbor’s only ewe and slew it for supper.

How clearly David saw his own sin and repented. (2 Samuel 12:1-10) Jesus warns us about being unthankful in the book of Mathew 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

I used to believe that the verse meant that the rich get rich and the poor get poorer. NOT SO! It means that when people are thankful for what they are given, some may want to give more. And to those who are poor shall be taken away what he does have. He is not so poor that there is nothing he can lose yet Jesus said unthankful people may even loose the little that they have If you think things are bad now wait awhile for it can get worse

My sister, Barbara likes to tell a story about our supper table. It seems our mother was cutting a freshly baked pie and I looked at the piece and said, “Who is that big piece of pie for, grandmother?” “No, son, it is for you!” “What that little piece!” she says was my response. I don’t believe it but it does illustrate how we look at things with an unthankful spirit.

Little victories with thankfulness creates Greater Victories. Should you begin to worry about what you will eat or wear or even your housing, are expressions of ingratitude. Jesus said that we are much better than the lily’s of the field and the forgotten sparrow! (Matthew 10:29-31)

So, take the check-up from the neck-up. What new thing have you thanked God for today. As you look for God’s mercies you will find them new each morning. Now aren’t you thankful! Look for things to be thankful for and list them. The song writer said, “Count your many blessing. Name them one by one. I think we would do better to name them ton by ton for they are inexhaustible! -- Dr. George VanSandt is a Christian Counselor and Pastor

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 25; Joshua 19-21; Luke 2:25-52

Great Quote: It is not you who shape God; it is God that shapes you. If then you are the work of God, await the hand of the Artist who does all things in due season. Offer the Potter your heart, soft and tractable, and keep the form in which the Artist has fashioned you. Let your clay be moist, lest you grow hard and lose the imprint of the Potter's fingers. Irenaues (200 AD)