As a refresher, let's repeat our Godsword for this week:
Hebrews 12:15
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. (New Living Translation)
Now, get your screwdriver, or your dynamite, whatever it takes to get into this word to understand how it works. When I understand how something works, it makes all the difference in the world to me and applying Scripture is no different. I tend to remember scripture more clearly and use it more readily when I take it apart.
Moving on to the next phrase:
Watch out
Pretty self-explanatory - we are to be alert and oriented at all times. When I say "watch out" to my kids, its usually to warn them about what could happen if they aren't watching.
So - we are to watch out, but what are we watching out for? What could happen if we aren't alert?
A root of bitterness can grow up and trouble you.
What kind of root?
A poisonous one.
Some of you know my husband and his weird ways, which by the way, do make my life easier in some ways. Let's just say he likes things tidy, including our landscaping. He can spot a weed that has sprung up as we top the hill by our neighbor's house! However- he doesn't always pay attention to what kind of weed it is, and doesn't watch out. He just yanks that baby right out of the dirt without a second thought, and low and behold, what springs up next?
Poison ivy - the rash.
On his hands.
And it spreads.
And he's miserable.
Let's just say, it troubles him!
Being the wonderful wife that I am, we now have a picture posted on our refrigerator so that he knows what poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac look like. Now he can watch out for what could be poisonous to him - and bring him MUCH trouble.
What would happen though if he pulled that weed and touched one of us before he washed his hands?
We would have poison ivy too.....and it would spread....and we would be miserable.
Which brings us to the next part of this verse -
corrupting many.
Wow. The poisonous root of bitterness that affects me can affect many. We influence people everyday and bitterness is contagious. We have to watch out for things that tend to poison us. Not allow them an opportunity to grow so that we don't play a role in corrupting someone else.
Anybody got any RoundUp I can use?
I need a squirt - or maybe ten!
Royal Princess Daughter Of The King
I have been lazy with my Godsword and getting my mind and spirit into it-- I have gotten to the 'LOOK OUT'and the 'WATCH OUT'--- with Todd's poison ivy episode -helping me to get my mind around it; will make it easier for me to dissect it and get it in my memory for daily use... have a great day and tell Todd to 'hang in there' and put a little bleach in bath water or soak the area in-- love, pt
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