Things That Make for Peace: Getting Rid of Bitterness and Picking Up Freedom (Hebrews 12:15-18)

I am in the final stages of writing a new book, “The Way of the Shepherd: Ancient Principles for Finding Peace in a Modern World.” The book focuses on Psalm 23 and its path to finding and keeping peace. This paragraph is from the introduction to my book:

The CDC reports that 13.2% of adults over eighteen were using some form of anti-anxiety drugs in 2018. The pharmacy management company Express Scripts says that between February and March 2020, there was a 34.1% increase in adults using anti-anxiety meds. The COVID-19 pandemic drove people into a state of frenzy. The anxiousness of mandates, lockdowns, and the constant threat of death caused a 20.9% increase in anti-anxiety medication use.

I am not saying there is no legitimate need for these medications. I am merely attempting to drive home that life comes with enormous stress today. But as Christ-followers, how we manage anxiety and stress should honor God.

Can I be so bold as to say, “God the Father wants His children to live in peace!” Paul wrote:

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding (Romans 14:19 ESV)

What are those things that make for peace? Last week I argued that peace is something we must intentionally pursue. The writer of Hebrews tells us to make every effort to live in peace with everyone (Hebrews 12:14). But how is this possible? The writer of Hebrews goes on to say,

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done.

I see three progressive hindrances in this passage. What do I mean? Our pursuit of peace with God, with self, and with others should be constant and ongoing. But there are hindrances that, if not dealt with, will create roadblocks to discovering and living in God’s peace. Here they are:

• Missing God’s grace

• Bitterness

• Becoming sexually immoral or godless.

I call these things progressive because each lead to the other; let me explain.

When the writer tells us not to miss the grace of God, I don’t think it is necessarily about us missing grace personally (though that may be the case). Instead, there is a sense in the context (peace with all men and holiness) that missing God’s grace is intrinsically tied to being selfish with God’s grace.

Put another way, you and I believe God’s grace covers our sins, right? Right! But somehow, we’ve concluded that the sins of others do not merit God’s graceful forgiveness. Therefore, we withhold compassion and mercy through ungraceful actions toward them.

I know my premise sounds strange, but I have repeatedly seen this scenario play out in three decades of pastoral ministry. I hear people say, “God is good!” But their actions reflect something they are not saying, “God is good, but only to those who look like me, vote like me, act like me, like the same music as me, and ….” Let me stop there because I think you’re smart enough to get the point.

Missing the grace of God is the first step and leads to bitterness. Stay with me!

When we are selfish with God’s grace, but God decides to be graceful to those who are not like me, we get angry. It can be irritating when God acts contrary to our ideas but consistently with His character. Why? Because we’ve made idols out of our ideas about God, supposing that our notions about Him dictate His actions.

If we do not repent of our idolatry, then in time, that idolatry will settle into our hearts, forming a seed of bitterness. When that seed takes root, it chokes out the grace of God. Bitter seeds germinate rapidly, but they do not produce after their kind. No!

Seeds of bitterness spring up into gossip, slander, shunning, cliques, legalism, and all the fruits of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21. When these works of the flesh are actively working in our lives, there will be confusion, strife, unrighteous anger, and more. Hebrews 12:15 says that our bitterness will defile many.

The word defile comes from a Greek verb that describes dying or staining a cloth. Our bitterness, if not repented, seeps into the fabric of our lives and sullies all our relationships. We take on the spirit of Esau, who sold the goodness of God for a bowl of beans. To find peace from the pain of bitterness, Esau sold his inheritance for the first shiny object offered by the enemy.

Let me offer some good news! Repentance brings peace with God and makes it possible to have peace with others. God wants His children to live in peace, not the bondage of bitterness and defilement. He has made a way through Jesus Christ for His sons and daughters to pursue peace, live holy, and abundantly extend the grace of God to all.

As Paul urged the saints at Ephesus, so I encourage you today:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:31-32).

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