DATE POSTED
Thursday, June 11, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read Hebrews 12:14-15 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the Living Bible (TLB).
14 Try to stay out of all quarrels, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for one who is not holy will not see the Lord. 15 Look after each other so that not one of you will fail to find God’s best blessings. Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you, for as it springs up it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives.
APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.
The Suddenness of Eternity
Isn’t it mind-blowing how quickly we rush to the bedside of someone about to depart this world? We desperately want to ensure they have made peace with God before they meet their Maker and Eternal Judge. But let’s be honest: countlessly more people wake up in the morning and never make it back to bed at night. Accidents, sudden illnesses, and unexpected tragedies take lives on the spot every single day.
If eternity is always that close, shouldn’t we always care about our spiritual condition – and our relationships with one another, rather than waiting for a finish line we might not see coming?
The writer of Hebrews is speaking directly to believers here, about living a holy life. Think about it: if we care enough about our earthly employers to act in a way that pleases them on the job every day, how much more effort should a child of the King make to avoid the pitfalls of unholiness, in order to please their Lord and Savior?
Before Christ: The Root of Bitterness
Before Christ, we are ruled by the need to have our own way. This selfishness naturally breeds quarrels. When we allow fighting to take over, we quickly default right back to the behavior of the world.
When you make that radical, 180-degree turn toward Jesus, God views you as holy. You have the Holy Spirit residing inside of you. But verse 15 issues a strict warning: Watch out for bitterness. When we let guardrails down, quarrels creep in, and bitterness takes root. Bitterness doesn’t stay quiet; it grows, turning us against our brothers, sisters, neighbors, coworkers, and relatives. When we harbor resentment, we stop representing the King and start doing the dirty work of the enemy—Satan—who desires nothing more than to steal, kill, and destroy what is holy.
After Christ: Tenderhearted and Forgiving
One of the most beautiful things about the Word of God is that it never exposes our sin without providing the remedy to stay holy. In Ephesians 4:31-32 (TLB), God gives us a clear exchange policy for our new life in Christ:
“Stop being mean, bad-tempered, and angry. Quarreling, harsh words, and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ.”
We often joke around and tell people, “You really know exactly which buttons to push, don’t you?” While we say it with a laugh, the truth behind it is sobering. When we deliberately provoke someone, we are often trying to push them off the ledge. We intentionally try to make them lose their temper, expose their weakness, and compromise their Christian walk.
God hates this. He will hold us responsible for provoking our brothers and sisters into sin. Instead, the Bible tells us that we are called to provoke one another toward love and good works. Because you are an “After Christ” believer, the King of Love lives inside you. Choosing to be tenderhearted and forgiving isn’t an impossible standard—through the Holy Spirit, it is entirely attainable. Choose to drop the grudge today. Your willingness to forgive is the truest indication that you are a child of the King.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for reminding me today of how fragile life is and how urgent it is to live holy in the present. Forgive me for the times I have allowed bitterness to take root in my heart, and for the times I have deliberately “pushed buttons” to provoke others into anger instead of love.
Holy Spirit, uproot every trace of resentment, mean-temperedness, and malice inside me. I don’t want to do the enemy’s work by spreading division. Instead, soften my heart. Make me truly tenderhearted and quick to forgive, reflecting the massive debt of forgiveness You paid for me on the cross. Let my words and actions today protect the peace of your Kingdom and honor You as my King.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!
Nuggets From God's Word 