"Let"

It's one of the most powerful words from God that brings His power and strength into our lives. It is a simply word and even some version omit the word completely, but it is in the original Greek text. Let me quote the verse and give some thoughts. "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice." (Eph. 5:31)

Many in Christ talk about the Lord, their relationship with the Lord, but the practice in their lives is something different. People who profess themselves as 'Christian' live a life that is less than glory to God. Homes are being wrecked by those who call themselves by this name because they allow the above verse to dictate how they live. Do you want the power of God? Do you want to find real strength and help in time of need? Sometimes people offend us, our mates hurt us deeply and what do we do? We become bitter or angry and the longer the anger and bitterness stays in the heart, you begin to grow cold and death finds its way back into your heart. The heart grows hard and the more you think about how deeply you have been hurt and offended, the more wrath and clamor become part of who you are. We find someone to talk to, but not for the better, only to slander the one who hurt us or tell on our mate. Look closely and you will see the resemblance between this way of living and the devil! The devil wants that and at one time, he had you completely under his power and control. You came to Christ and His Lordship and power, His forgiveness touched you deeply. But something happened. We have become hurt and we work off the hurt rather than the Lord. We push Him out and slowly the desires of the devil become ours and you can see it in our anger, resentments and bitterness!

I was speaking about a powerful little at the beginning. Look closely and you will see it at the beginning of the verse: "Let!" The Lord is asking us to "let" go of bitterness, anger, etc. because it will take you away from the Lord and His power. "Let!" Would you allow the Lord access to your heart by letting go of bitterness, wrath and anger? Some have such a choke hold on their emotions they aren't about to "let" anything take place of what they feel. The result? God is pushed out. You find your life frittering away, falling into a deep hole. You want the proof? Let the one who offended you come around or their name come up and notice the reaction in your heart. You are overcome with all the disturbing and hateful feelings.

The Lord isn't asking us to do something that is impossible. He is asking for entrance and His power to come into the heart and give you a strength that goes beyond words! You find the power of God, the same God who wiped out our world, that God standing with you and you begin to overcome. It is all about "let!"

What should we replace those feelings with? "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." (Eph. 4:32) When one hates or is hateful, they won't "let" and so they find themselves gaining daily in more anger, wrath and will eventually do something that will be destructive. Homes are ripped apart. Congregations are destroyed. The power behind it? Not God...When will we "let?" It all depends on if you care about forgiveness or not!