GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT!

GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Eph 4:30

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

          The word “grieve” here is the Greek word ‎lupeo which means “to distress; to cause to be sad; to make sorry.” I think we are not always aware of the emotional relationship we have with the Spirit of Jesus. He rejoices when we walk straight but is sad when we stagger. An overview of this fourth chapter reveals at least three ways in which we may cause the Holy Spirit to be sad.

          First, we do so by giving way to wrong temper! We may walk about with a seething anger which colors all our world. Something or someone has irritated us – maybe we are angry at ourselves – and we slam doors and kick the cat. The word “let” in verse 31 is a word that means “to sail away or to weigh anchor.” We must choose to send the wrong temper away with the wind.

          Next, we grieve the Holy Spirit with unholy words. The “corrupt communication” found in verse 29 literally means “morally worthless words.” Oh, how careful we must be in this. Consider also that our speech has roots in our thoughts. Positively, we should try to speak those that minister grace to the hearers.

          Finally, we grieve the Holy Spirit by our unrighteous actions. Our temper and our words ultimately produce unholy deeds. We may hide these from family, friends, and associates but we can never hide them from God. How pitiful we must appear to the God who spilt His blood to cleanse us.

Dear Holy Spirit, many times I am guilty of a seething anger and frustration which vents itself in unholy speech and unrighteous actions. Let us sit and weep together till the grief be swept away with tears. AMEN