Bitter Thoughts—Accusation

“Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And hav­ing been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Heb. 5:7-9.

What is so meaningful for us is the life Jesus lived in the days of His flesh—that is when the work took place. That is when He destroyed death and the kingdom of death. The Fa­ther opened His ear so that He received an ever-increasing area in which to be obedient. How will we learn to hear if we don’t experience suffering? By suffering we see more of the sin that dwells in our flesh, so that we can have a spiritual development. This life is hidden from most believers.

“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, revil­ing, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.” 1 Tim. 6:3-5.

If we do not hold fast to wholesome words and godliness, we will depart from sound doctrine. Then everything evil will gain access. There is a whole doctrine of godliness, and it is revealed to those who follow Christ. “And without contro­versy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.” 1 Tim. 3:16.

When you look into the mystery of godliness, God enlight­ens you about the things that pertain to godliness. You must have a longing and a yearning for such a life. Therefore, our meetings must be directed so that those who have a longing for godliness receive nourishment. Press into God so you can get some of the hidden manna that brings nourishment to people. This must take place in a godly spirit, in assurance that the Most High God hears your words. This assurance will cause a great deal of superficiality to disappear.

“Do not curse the king, even in your thought; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice and a bird in flight may tell the matter.” Eccl. 10:20. Remember this when you come into sufferings. Even if you don’t understand everything, you must believe in God so you don’t end up in darkness. Perhaps using the word “curse” is too strong, but think how easy it is to come into a criticizing, accusing mindset!

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” James 4:1. Here James is speaking to believing brothers! Where do accusing, criticizing and blaming thoughts come from? They come from the lusts that are at work in your members. The cross must work against all those thoughts. A sigh of discontent against your brother is also an accusation. Every single thought like this becomes a root that is alive. It will develop. If you let such thoughts live, they will become manifest in the way you conduct yourself toward the person you are accusing. You will not be able to honor that brother. Something bitter develops in the root-life of your heart. It may not come out as an accusation, but something will be destroyed in your heart. Such thoughts can be passed on through several generations. A horribly destructive under­standing or perception can permeate a whole family because one person allowed a bitter root to grow. That root is alive, and it grows. After awhile these bitter roots become the real­ity a person lives in.

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” Heb. 12:14-15.

“‘For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges ev­ery son whom He receives.’ . . . But if you are without chas­tening, of which all have become partakers, then you are ille­gitimate and not sons.” Heb. 12:6, 8. God’s grace is that He deals with us as He deals with sons. He gives us an education. Think about Jesus who received such a training from His Fa­ther without becoming bitter. On the contrary, He had this re­lationship to God in His heart: “Righteous Father!”

“Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” 1 Pet. 4:19. When you see a brother or sister in the process of humiliation who is going through things you have not gone through, you must be careful in your thoughts. Do not despise someone who is being humiliated! If you are the one in humiliation, you must commit your soul to your faithful Creator. Don’t blame, don’t criticize, don’t accuse, don’t curse! Commit all of your thoughts to Him who created you, so that His glory can be revealed in you!

The doctrine of godliness is also the doctrine of the death of the grain of wheat, of taking up your cross every day and denying yourself and of attaining glory and divine nature through sufferings. When Jesus stood firm and was faithful to the counsels of God in His heart, His senses were exercised so He did not go astray in His thoughts when He came into suf­ferings.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the un­just, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit . . . .” 1 Pet. 3:18. God’s Son, who did only good, was treated like an unrighteous man. He prayed for them. The unrighteous considered themselves righteous, but they considered the Master unrighteous. That is how stupid people can be in their own thoughts when iniq­uity has taken the upper hand! No doubt the desire to justify Himself came up strongly in Jesus when He met His own na­ture, His self-righteousness. Our self-life must also go into death, and then we will find tremendous comfort in Him.

Jesus’ goal was to lead people to God. He was good to people. Whatever dies is gone—nothing must remain that would make us a “martyr.” Death must take whatever is ap­pointed to death, and we no longer need to concern ourselves with it. This is how God’s power and wisdom are manifested in us. And it must be so living and so real for us that it is able to work even when we are right in the midst of life’s circum­stances.

“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?” James 3:10-11. Only a pure, good fountain must flow out from our life, the fountain that comes from God. If you criticize or ac­cuse your wife or children, it comes from thoughts that have been allowed to remain. Everyone must take this very seri­ously so that all of these things are completely eradicated.