Take heed to yourselves: If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
And if he trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to you, saying, I repent; you must forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say unto this sycamine tree, be plucked up by the root, and be planted in the sea; and it would obey you. Luke 17:3-6
Everything Jesus said was of great significance. This scripture may be familiar to you, but there are two things Jesus spoke of in this study on forgiveness that are especially worth noting.
The sycamine tree is known to have one of the deepest root structures of all trees in the Middle East. It is a vigorous and robust tree that grows to a height of thirty feet or more. Because it's root system runs so deep into the earth, it is very difficult to kill. Hot weather and blistering temperatures have very little effect on this tree because it taps into water sources deep within the earth. Even cutting it to its base would not guarantee its death because of this type of root system, hidden deep under the ground, enabling it to keep resurfacing again and again. This tree is very difficult to eradicate. The tree also bares a fig like fruit that looks very appetizing, but is bitter to the taste and is known to be poisonous.
Jesus used the sycamine tree as an example of bitterness and unforgiveness. Like the sycamine tree, bitterness and unforgiveness must be dealt with at the roots, or it will keep springing up again and again.
Concorde University has done a fifteen year study on anger and bitterness, and the effects on the physical body, all manner of illnesses, both physically and mentally have been proven, stemming from prolonged anger and bitterness. So what can be done with this problem that is so detrimental to a soul?
Jesus also spoke about the grain of a mustard seed which is one of the smallest seeds on earth. And Jesus said, If we had faith as the grain of a mustard seed we could say to this sycamine tree be plucked up by the roots and cast into the sea and it would obey you. You can see, if we truly want this issue dealt with and out of your lives, it takes only a small amount of faith to completely uproot this deadly life draining problem.
If perhaps this problem is in your life today, and you would like to have joy, peace, and sweetness restored to you, ask Jesus to eliminate this unforgiving and bitter spirit from the heart, ask Him also to give you a forgiving and loving spirit, then trust your Lord to do it by faith. Your life and relationships then and only then can be restored. My prayer is that no brother or sister in Christ will stay in this state, God bless.
And if he trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to you, saying, I repent; you must forgive him. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say unto this sycamine tree, be plucked up by the root, and be planted in the sea; and it would obey you. Luke 17:3-6
Everything Jesus said was of great significance. This scripture may be familiar to you, but there are two things Jesus spoke of in this study on forgiveness that are especially worth noting.
The sycamine tree is known to have one of the deepest root structures of all trees in the Middle East. It is a vigorous and robust tree that grows to a height of thirty feet or more. Because it's root system runs so deep into the earth, it is very difficult to kill. Hot weather and blistering temperatures have very little effect on this tree because it taps into water sources deep within the earth. Even cutting it to its base would not guarantee its death because of this type of root system, hidden deep under the ground, enabling it to keep resurfacing again and again. This tree is very difficult to eradicate. The tree also bares a fig like fruit that looks very appetizing, but is bitter to the taste and is known to be poisonous.
Jesus used the sycamine tree as an example of bitterness and unforgiveness. Like the sycamine tree, bitterness and unforgiveness must be dealt with at the roots, or it will keep springing up again and again.
Concorde University has done a fifteen year study on anger and bitterness, and the effects on the physical body, all manner of illnesses, both physically and mentally have been proven, stemming from prolonged anger and bitterness. So what can be done with this problem that is so detrimental to a soul?
Jesus also spoke about the grain of a mustard seed which is one of the smallest seeds on earth. And Jesus said, If we had faith as the grain of a mustard seed we could say to this sycamine tree be plucked up by the roots and cast into the sea and it would obey you. You can see, if we truly want this issue dealt with and out of your lives, it takes only a small amount of faith to completely uproot this deadly life draining problem.
If perhaps this problem is in your life today, and you would like to have joy, peace, and sweetness restored to you, ask Jesus to eliminate this unforgiving and bitter spirit from the heart, ask Him also to give you a forgiving and loving spirit, then trust your Lord to do it by faith. Your life and relationships then and only then can be restored. My prayer is that no brother or sister in Christ will stay in this state, God bless.
