Over the past few months I have allowed something to grow in my heart that I didn’t even realize was there until just yesterday. Like an unskilled gardener I neglected the soil of my heart and let frustration and pride sink in. They began to take root and even sprout, finally blooming into the fruit of bitterness. I should have caught it sooner. I should have pulled it out so not to contaminate the rest of my heart, but I didnt!
When the bible tells us to produce good fruit it is not for our sake alone but for those that will benefit from our fruit.
…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” – Galatians 5:22-23
The fruits of the spirit are not only beneficial to the one bearing them but more so to those around him. The same is true when you bear bad fruit. Not only was I allowing the fruit of bitterness to affect me but also my beautiful wife. As bitterness grew I began to be more short in my temper. I found myself being easily irritated at her. Every thing she did bothered me.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” – Ephesians 4:31
Yet God is so gracious with me and unwilling to let this bitterness to continue growing so he convicted my heart. He knows that this would inevitably destroy me and my marriage. So, I repented and apologized to my wife and asked her to forgive me. Which she did.
No matter where the bitterness came from, it was there and I needed to acknowledge it and address it. Men, We need to make sure we are always allowing God to examine our hearts and reveal to us the areas that need pruning or de-weeding in my case. Otherwise we will let something slip into our hearts and inevitably hurt the ones we love.
Is there any bad fruit being produced in your life and marriage right now?
How is it affecting you and those you love?
When are you going to allow God to remove it?