The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Ephesians 4:30,
"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
The reality that we can "grieve" the Holy Spirit tells us something about him. As I think of this relationship, I am drawn to thinking about the parent/child relationship. I must confess that when I read of some difficulty or some misfortune of a stranger in the news, I may not feel much grief over it. When it is the child of a friend (or spouse, etc.) I may feel some grief over it. But, if it is my child, I feel grief! I suspect it relates to my level of care, concern and love for my child. As parents do, I wish for a happy outcome in life for each of my children.
I have a desire that each of my children do well, that they succeed. I have a desire that they make choices that are the best in life for them, that they not become deceived, that they not become carried away by harmful influences, that they not make poor choices. It is my desire for their very best that prompts grief in my heart if I see poor choices made by them, unfortunate or harmful outcomes headed their way that draw them away from their Creator.
As I think of my own feelings about that which might bring me grief, especially when choices are offered, as Paul speaks to in this context, it tells me a couple of things about the Holy Spirit. The first is that he has his own desires for me and those desires are aligned with what is the very best for me - that which is consistent with the desires of my loving and kind Creator. As opposed to a caricature of a parental figure shaking his finger at me for some infraction, the Holy Spirit experiences grief when I make poor choices, just as I might feel grief if my own children do so. Not to say he won't do what is necessary to "bring me around", I don't want to miss the point that he does experience grief at the poor choices I my make. He loves me and has my very best at heart. The second is, based on the first, I can always count on the Holy Spirit to lead me in a direction that is the very best for me. He will always guide me in a direction that has my very best interests at heart.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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