It's So Easy

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

These days, it's so easy to offend someone without even trying. It's even easier to find people who seem to try to do everything they can to offend others. (If you think I'm joking, try reading an online news article that allows comments at the end.) There's a whole movement whose sole purpose, it seems, is to make inflammatory and or insulting statements - like an equal opportunity offender.

We're not to be like that! People can be so wounded emotionally. It's so easy to want to defend or protect them, but before you know it, you can get caught up in the antagonistic, caustic vitriol of it all. Then it's so easy to become bitter. It's so easy to spew that all over anyone who is around you. Hurt turns to bitterness making it so easy to miss God's grace and forgiveness.

It's so easy to forget that the cost of His mercy and grace was the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The Cross was not easy...

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for all that You've done to make it easier for us to get back into a right relationship with You. We want to live peaceably with others. We want to live a holy life. We want to see You! Remind us that we must forgive in order to be forgiven. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen