Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you. —Ephesians 4:31
The word bitterness in Ephesians 4:31 comes from the Greek root word pik. It means what it sounds like—to prick or cut. Pik can refer to a sharp, pointed object or a sharp, bitter taste.
What a picture of our lives when we refuse to forgive. Think of someone who has wronged you. Perhaps their memory is like a sharp object poking you. Maybe they’ve left a bad taste in your mouth.
But Paul offers relief when he says, “Let all bitterness . . . be removed from you.” He goes on to say, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ” (v. 32).
Are you experiencing the sharp, distasteful effects of bitterness? You can find relief by choosing forgiveness. In so doing, you will be released to love and serve the Lord and others. No longer will bitterness trouble you; instead, His grace will flow through you to others, blessing everything you touch.
Make it Personal
What relief have you found in choosing forgiveness?