Do Not Grieve the Spirit

Ephesians 4:30-32

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

When I was first studying this passage, I thought to myself, “In what ways can we grieve the Holy Spirit?” We grieve the Spirit by neglecting its presence, lying, stealing, being bitter, being unforgiving, or just simply living in a sinful manner. In this sense, the passage is talking about grieving the Holy Spirit by using thoughtless words, tearing others down, and being a discourager. 

As a believer, we should strive to respond in ways that glorify God. Instead of having a resentful spirit, we should seek reconciliation. Losing control of our emotions, having outbursts of anger, and living with a callous heart must all be put away in order to effectively impact the Kingdom. We should be eager to maintain unity in our friendships, relationships, family, and church.

A believer should desire to show others the same kindness and forgiveness that God has so graciously shown us. God continues to offer forgiveness even after we sin again and again. God offers his kindness to those who are far from Him and He still wants to have a relationship with them. God sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins, even though we all deserve Hell. He offers restoration in our lives. God still wants to associate ourselves with Him even after we have wronged Him over and over. God still wants to use us to impact His kingdom even though we are broken. And we need to offer this kind of holy, merciful love to those around us.

As you go about your week, remember to speak truth and be a grace giver.

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
  • Can you think of some people that you find it hard to show kindness, grace, and forgiveness toward? 
  • What are the areas where you are most prone to grieve the Spirit? 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Elise Jones

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Today's reading - Ephesians 4:30-32. "God still wants to use us to impact His kingdom even though we are broken. And we need to offer this kind of holy, merciful love to those around us."

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