Gutter Extensions

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Hebrews 12:14-15 NIV: "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."

Ephesians 4:31-32: "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

What it is speaking to me:

I have extension tubes for the gutters on the front of my house. Exciting stuff, I know. I have gutter extensions because if it rains and those extensions are disconnected, the water from the gutter pours into the ground right next to my foundation, and I get water in my basement. Guaranteed. A light sprinkle might not trigger it, but any good rain and I get puddles on the basement floor. My foundation is a 110-year-old stone foundation, so it just kind of comes with the territory.

The solution? Gutter extensions. When it is going to rain, or is already raining, I check to make sure my extensions are properly secured. Every time. Because if they are not, water is coming.

These verses got me thinking about my gutters because this is how forgiveness and bitterness work. People stink sometimes. They "rain" on our houses, sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. Without forgiveness (read: gutter extensions), that rain seeps into our foundation and we end up with a mess in our basement (read: bitterness).

Just as water in a basement makes a mess, so does bitterness in our hearts. It destroys the treasure we have stored there, namely love towards others. Like water, it is difficult to clean up and get rid of. Perhaps you have experienced bitterness and know exactly what I am talking about.

Maybe you are living with "water in your basement" right now. If you are, I am sorry. The only way to deal with it is to do what Paul writes above: "Get rid of it."

If you aren't, the solution to avoid it is simple: forgiveness. Be quick to forgive, every time. Be as diligent about forgiveness as I am about checking my gutter extensions. I learned that if I don't check them, the consequences are immediate and extensive. The consequences of bitterness are far more destructive than a real puddle on my basement floor. There is always a chance of rain, so let's extend forgiveness quickly.

What is it saying to you?

• How is your heart?

• Have you let even a little bitterness towards someone in?

• How do you forgive? Is it easy for you? Hard? Why or why not?

What are we going to do about it?

• Got "water in your basement"? Get rid of it right now. Just decide to be done with it. Don't let it wait another day.

• Maybe you don't have water in the basement, but it's raining? Raining hard? Forgive quickly and believe the best. Don't let the day go by without checking that your heart is safe and dry in the love of Christ.