Ephesians 4: Don't Grieve the Holy Spirit
When Christ died for you. He did not die just so that you could say, “thank you and yes I need you.” You, if you believe that you indeed need a savior and cannot Attain salvation on your own and accept that Christ paid that debt for you, must “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Vs 1-3 you have been given gifts from Christ Jesus and grace to carry out those gifts. These gifts were given to equip you “for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God.” Vs 12-13. It’s not a gift for you. It’s not for your glory or fame. It’s to build up the body of Christ. It’s all for Him. This is for other believers. This is for the kind of knowledge that is the deep knowledge that a believer comes to through prayer and time spent in the word, discussion, time with other believers walking through life in obedience to His commands. This is the way to eventually manifest the qualities of His Son. Ephesians 4 tells us to not give ourselves over to our own desires of the flesh and to not “grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom we were sealed for the day of redemption.” But to be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as Christ forgave you.” Vs 30-32
Did you get that? Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Do you ever stop to think that you are grieving the Holy Spirit with your actions? I don’t. I should. If I did I would be appalled. I would need to change, I would have to change my ways. Because to grieve the Holy Spirit is unthinkable. It’s up there with things we just can’t think about. But we must if we are to live a life pleasing to the Lord. So for today, let’s do just that - let’s stop. Think. And try, for a start, to not grieve the Holy Spirit with our thoughts and actions. Then, let’s get up again tomorrow and do it again.
