Cutting Down the Bitter Root With Grace (Hebrews 12:15)
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many” ( Hebrews 12:15 )
Grace does not stop being extended to mankind once they are born again. The opposite is actually true; through Jesus we receive grace upon grace ( John 1:16 ). God’s grace is continually influencing us as believers. His grace is the anchor that keeps us turned and focused on Christ, growing in faith, growing in the knowledge of God and it is what continually strengthens us in His love. Remaining steadfast in that grace protects us from harm.
One of the admonishments from the writer of Hebrews is to be on the lookout for one another; encouraging each other to remain secure in the state of grace, God’s unmerited favor and spiritual blessing. Grace protects our heart from allowing bitterness from situations and experiences to creep in and wreak havoc. The attitude of bitterness is likened to a bitter root that grows and produces fruit of its kind.
It is interesting that bitterness will not only affect your own life but this verse explains that when it grows it will cause trouble by defiling many. By definition defilement means to stain, to soil, to sully or to contaminate. Bitterness can overflow and take root in others very easily when unchecked and released. This is why we must pay attention to the grace of God. His grace covers a multitude of sins. His grace has the power to wash over resentment, hurt and misunderstandings so bitterness has no place to grow. His grace can replace hurt with healing, which is exactly what it will do when we let it.
In the previous verse, we are encouraged to live at peace and be holy, this verse provides a practical way in which to do this; we are to remain steadfast in God’s grace allowing it to dictate our reaction to all situations. God’s grace is what transforms us continually into the men and women He has called us to be. What an amazing truth!