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Gentleness vs Bitterness

Bible story: Cain and Abel Genesis 4:1-16

Theme Verse: Ephesians 4:31

Today’s battle is gentleness verses bitterness. Bitterness is like a jail cell! We think we have put the bad person in jail, when really we are the ones locked up! The truth is, people will hurt us. Sometimes we have done something wrong to deserve the treatment, and sometimes we are completely innocent. Either way, we are responsible for our own hearts.

Bitterness starts out as a hurt. A common reaction to the pain is to get angry, and that can lead to resentment. If left to fester, the anger eventually becomes like a corrosive ulcer that is bitterness! One definition of bitterness is “a chronic and pervasive state of smoldering resentment.”

The wonderful thing about the gospel of Jesus Christ is that nothing can touch Christians! They may burn my body, but they cannot touch my soul. They may slander me to people, but Jesus knows I am innocent. In the end, each man will pay for their own actions. In heaven, I will be rewarded for my own behavior, and there is nothing that anyone can do to steal my joy. People can steal my possessions here on earth, but no one can steal the treasures that I have put away in heaven. This is all true, UNLESS I allow bitterness into my heart over sins that others have done to me. If I repeatedly think about the wrongs done to me and how I am a victim, it can enter my soul and take hold of my personality. I can become distrustful, doubtful, depressed, cynical, and unhappy. The person who wronged me cannot steal my joy unless I give it to them.

Today’s Bible story is about Cain and Abel, two brothers who were trying to sacrifice to God. Cain brought some fruits and vegetables to God as an offering, and Abel brought a lamb to sacrifice. God liked Abel’s offering but did not like Cain’s. In this story, God was not sinning against Cain. God always has favored animal sacrifices throughout the whole Bible. Cain would not have known that, but he could have asked. When he saw that God was displeased with his fruits and vegetables, he could have sold them to buy a lamb. Instead, he allowed anger to grow in his heart. God spoke to Cain to encourage him, but Cain did not want to listen. Instead, he allowed that anger to burn and turn into bitterness. In anger, Cain attacked his brother Abel.

Honestly, it is very difficult to forgive others who sin against us. It is also difficult to receive discipline from our authorities when we have done something wrong. It requires gentleness in our hearts to be able to accept and change. Cain thought he was putting Abel into a jail cell for being God’s favorite, but instead, he put himself into jail, for the rest of his life!

Can you choose gentleness instead of bitterness for your life? Will you refuse to allow others to steal your heart? It is completely up to you how much you allow others to take.

Questions:

1. What does it look like when we are bitter? Do you know someone bitter?

2. Has someone wronged you? Have you been able to forgive them?

3. Can the person who wronged me also hurt me in heaven?

Life Application:

Choose something or someone that you are angry with, and forgive them. Take a moment in prayer, and actually say out loud, “I forgive you.”

Want more?

This reading plan is taken from Equip & Grow's children’s curriculum, looking at being a champion by putting into practice the Fruits of the Spirit. Enjoy this plan at home, and then do the full curriculum at church with student books, games, crafts, songs, decorations, and more!

https://www.childrenareimportant.com/champions/index.php