Don't let the sour taste turn bitter. Daily Devotional - March 29, 2010

Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 40, John 19, Proverbs 16, Philippians 3

John 19: 28-30 “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”


This weekend I had the privilege of sharing my testimony with Urban. I also was able to share on the death of Jesus and his last words “It is finished” from John 19. The Holy Spirit would not let me escape these words or this scripture passage and today it is in our Bible reading plan!

One thing I didn’t get the chance to touch on in my message was the significance of the sour wine. One of the hardest things about many “It is finished” moments in our lives is the sour taste that hardship can leave. The sour turns to bitter when we allow unforgiveness to fester in our hearts. There is a reason it is called BITTERNESS! Whether we are tempted to be bitter at those who have hurt us, to be bitter at God or bitter at ourselves we must always look to the example that Jesus set for us.

I love Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.”

Jesus was tempted in EVERY way just as we are. Tempted to choose unforgiveness over forgiveness. Tempted to choose hatred over love. Tempted to choose bitterness over mercy.

Luke 23:24 reminds us of what He chose that day as He was being beaten and tortured; “Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Don’t let the sour taste turn bitter. Choose forgiveness, choose love and choose to believe that ‘IT is finished’ does not mean that ‘YOU are finished!’

Mel Miller