May 22 Bless 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. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
 
ARE you grieved when someone you love refuses to do what’s right? Do you grieve in particular over the ungodly ways a loved one speaks to you and others?
    This is what Paul means as he says “do not grieve the Holy Spirit”. He has written of the ways we should put aside our anger, serve others and speak well toward one another. Now he continues to teach the one body to warn us. Be alert and know the Spirit grieves when we give ourselves up to sin with no desire to live into God’s truths.
    Yes, we will sin in the ways Paul lists here and certainly in other ways. That is our nature. But Paul’s point is that we must strive to live into the one faith we proclaim in our one baptism. We cannot say we worship God and then deliberately live as an unbeliever!  
    Listen to the Holy Word here. Be purposeful to please the Holy Spirit with your efforts to put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor (demanding attitude), slander and malice from your life.  Live in the Spirit’s power. Be “kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
    Your desire to please God and to live in his ways will be a joy to the Father, Son and Spirit. Obeying God’s teachings, you will come into a deeper relationship with the Triune God. Loving God is obeying his commands. In such love, you are rooted and established in his true love for you. What joy it is to strive toward God. What peace, strength, faith, hope and love you will have for your God and for all around you.
 
Prayer: Holy God, I pray I do not grieve you. When I do, let me know. Give me a loving heart for you that longs to obey your teachings, so I know your joy. In the Spirit’s power, amen.