Does Your Heart Have Roots?

Hebrews 12:15

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God;

lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you,

thereby many be defiled.

Mom and Dad came for breakfast a few weeks ago.  As usual, Dad had a story to tell - only this story turned into a sermon.  Dad's legally disabled, but loves a beautiful lawn.  So when a weed poked its ugly head up in his flower garden after he carefully laid down black plastic and mulch, he wasn't too thrilled to think about getting down and digging it out.  The next time he got his little weed whacker out he simply whacked it off.  End of story!

Well, until a week later.  This time he saw the weed and it was as big as the plants he had planted.  Again, he whacked the offender off at ground level.  Then again he was trimming and spotted the weed - only this time it was even bigger than the flowers nearby.  He realized he was going to have to get down on his knees and dig the offender up.

Then came the sermon...

That weed is just like bitterness in a heart.  We spot it.  We whack it off.  It looks like it's been taken care of.  It seems like it's gone.  We go about life, then suddenly...  there it is again.  Only this time it's bigger than before. 

A little word of advice from Dad

......if you still get angry when you remember a wrong done to you

.....if you find yourself angry all over again when someone reoffends 

.....if you get a feeling of pleasure out of hearing bad news about someone who has done you wrong

There's bitterness rooted in your heart.  It's time to get down on your knees and dig out the roots.