Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– F.B. Meyer
Peace With God
Nobody can have the peace of God until they are first at peace with Him. How does that happen? Romans 5:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” If you’ve not made peace with God through trusting in Jesus, all you will have is bitterness, and you’ll pour it out to those around you.
Bitter for Sweet
When life turns bitter, turn to Jesus because “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3-4). Whatever Paul had to endure–and it was a lot–he knew that nothing could compare with the glory that’s going to be revealed to us someday (Romans 8:18) and that everything that happens works together for our own good according to God’s purposes (Romans 8:28).
Pouring out for Filling Up
God’s judgment is pronounced on those today who call what is evil good and what is good evil. Thus God says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20). In our world today, what used to be called evil and sinful is now embraced as good in the eyes of man. But God still declares that sin cuts us off from God (Isaiah 59:2), and we must not back down from calling it what it really is. Darkness is not light, and light is not darkness.
Conclusion
We can either pour out our bitterness upon others or yield to the Holy Spirit and allow God to pour into us His peace, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). And as we pour out our bitterness, God pours in His peace.
