Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 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.
This passage of scripture cautions us to try and avoid as far as possible, any root of bitterness that may spring up among us as members of the community of faith, who are joined by one common cord of love and unity in Christ. This advice is of critical importance if we are to present to the world a united front in spreading the everlasting gospel, for the effectiveness of our witnessing can be adversely affected if there exists a root of bitterness in our midst. The reason why this admonition as coming from Christ is pertinent on an ongoing basis, is because from time to time there arises an issue needing redress, and the way in which the resolution is accomplished may not sit well with everyone.
This is particularly true if the leadership of the church may not always consider the needs of the individual members, or the General Conference may rule this way or that on a sensitive issue. With God, the real issue is not so much who is right and who is wrong, although the truth must be interwoven in all of our decision-making processes. What is of vital importance is the spirit in which the resolution is reached, for there is the prospect of being right, but with the wrong spirit.
In other words, after all is said and done, and the dust settles, there must not remain in our hearts any cold animosities towards our brethren, and even if things did not turn out the way we felt was right, we should be willing to let the scriptural processes of reconciliation and resolution run their course, leaving the results up to God, who is the head of the church. Let's read:
James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
This counsel is to be employed as we move forward in our day, for as serious developments take place in the spiritual realm, and we see the fast approach of the mystery of iniquity in the moral decay of society, we might be tempted to think that certain courses of action should be taken by our leadership, in order to counter the onset of rebellion in our day. Let us all then be willing and humble enough to take everything to the Lord in prayer, so that He may guide us with wisdom and discretion moving forward, so that we do not make serious mistakes that we will regret later on.
A very interesting commentary on the cultivation of a Christlike spirit has been written by the servant of The Lord, and it will do us all well to read and appropriate the counsels thus given, as the encroach of the man of sin, takes a turn for the worse. Let's read:
(Excerpts from Last Day Events pp. 138) Those who compose our churches have traits of character that will lead them, if they are not very careful, to feel indignant, because on account of misrepresentation their liberty in regard to working on Sunday is taken away. Do not fly into a passion over this matter but take everything in prayer to God. He alone can restrain the power of rulers. Walk not rashly. Let none boast unwisely of their liberty, using it for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God, “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” [1 Peter 2:17]. This advice is to be of real value to all who are to be brought into strait places. Nothing that shows defiance or that could be interpreted as maliciousness must be shown.
Let us therefore do all we can, by the grace and power of God to avoid any root of bitterness, lest many be defiled and lose their way because of one rash word, or hasty comment that was made without the controlling power of The Spirit of God. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to submit ourselves to be guided by The Holy Spirit in all things, and we have the assurance that God's good and perfect purposes, will be fulfilled in their due season. Let's read:
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!