July 21

They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
   and it went ill with Moses on their account,
for they made his spirit bitter,
   and he spoke rashly with his lips.
Psalm 106:32-33 ESV

Moses was the man whom the LORD had appointed to lead His people out of Egypt. He prayed persistently for this people. Whenever they grumbled, he prayed. Whenever they longed for food in Egypt (forgetting their slavery) he prayed. When they set up an idol and worshiped it, he got angry and he prayed. The people grumbled for water and Moses was instructed to speak to the rock in order that it would bring forth water. He struck it. I wondered the significance of this. I have read Psalm 106 many times, but yesterday, for the first time, I realized Moses' sin. His heart had become bitter and it was reflected in his words and his actions. The LORD forgave Moses, but as a consequence, Moses was not permitted to go into the Promised Land.

At the cross of Jesus Christ, all our sins, all the sins of all the people in the world are covered by the blood of Christ. Bitterness is to reach into that blood covering and claim back the deadly prize of anger nurtured in the heart. Bitterness is a vile vine that yields a fruit which continually poisons the mind and heart. If a man, righteous and godly as Moses wrestled with bitterness, how much more ought we to seek to purge it from our souls and hearts and thoughts? We are not entitled to bitterness. We are not entitled to hold on to this or that wrong which we think someone else had done against us. We are to yield our all to the cleansing flood of Jesus' blood.

Spirit of God, thank You that You are the Lamp lighting up every part of my heart so that I can clearly see where the cancer of bitterness is gnawing at my heart and mind. Thank You, Spirit of God, that You bring the healing and cleansing of Jesus' blood to every stain and all wrong-doing in the lives of those who believe. Spirit of God, thank You that in Christ I am continually being made holy and am confirmed as a child of the Father in Heaven. Move me God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit to forgive those who need forgiveness and prepare me and humble me so that I may seek forgiveness also. Through the Spirit's reconciling work accomplished by Christ among Your people, Mighty God be glorified. Your word says that a brother, or sister, offended is harder than a fortified city. Break down the walls of bitterness and set us free in Christ.
Amen.