SPIRITUAL GALL BLADDER ATTACKS

Have you ever had a gall bladder attack? No? Lucky You!

Years ago I used to have what I thought was heartburn. Until the day I got a taste of bile! Boy, was it ever bitter! No one had to tell me my heartburn, in reality, was a gall bladder attack! After surgery, I was told the gallstone the doctor removed was the largest ever removed at either of the two hospitals in our city. Somewhere I have a photo of that gallstone and a large hen egg, side by side. To this day I can't tell you which is which!!!

In Acts 8:23, Peter and John speak about "the gall of bitterness" -- and from my experience, the word "bitter" is a most appropriate description of "gall!" The only other time "gall" is used in the New Testament is when Christ, on the cross, was offered a drink of vinegar mixed with gall. It was a stupefying drink, and Matthew 27:34 tells us that when He had tasted it, He refused to drink it.

But speaking of gall, did you know that gall still exists in many churches today? I'm speaking now of spiritual gall, or bitterness. And the church of God will never operate effectively if plagued with bitterness. It's so easy to look around and notice how bitter this person is against so-and-so. And how bitter that person is against another person. What's the problem? They're having spiritual gall bladder attacks, and bitterness is running rampant.

But instead of looking at others, I challenge you to look in your own heart. Are you bitter at all toward anyone else? If we're not careful, bitterness can be hidden in the innermost recesses of our hearts. We may think we have it hidden so well that no one knows it is there. But, as I Samuel 16:7 says, "(M)an looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

Do you have spiritual gall bladder attacks? I sincerely hope not.

Preacher's Kid

P.S. If you do, surgery by the Chief surgeon, God Himself, is the only cure!