If the writer of Ephesians had said “do not make God angry,” it would not have the same effect on me. I often deserve God’s anger, and if you’re honest, you do too. But to “grieve” God, that just hits different.
Grief . . . we all know some things about grief.
Grief is not just sadness - grief is sadness because we love.
Grief is a love word and that gives me great consolation.
If I grieve a loss - a death, a relationship, health - it means I have loved.
If we can “grieve the Holy Spirit of God,” it’s because He loves us.
That portion of Ephesians 4 gives instructions to us about how to live as Christians. In the middle of “don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t be lazy, watch your mouth, don’t be bitter, don’t be wrathful, don’t be angry, be kind, be tenderhearted, be forgiving, God lets us know of His great love for us because we can grieve Him with our behavior.
He loves us.
He grieves when we do not live up to our potential and gives grace and mercy for each new start. May we be encouraged today by His love and may we purpose to “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.”
Comments