4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption
Have you ever disappointed God? The very thought caused my stomach to churn! Much has been said about “grieving the Holy Spirit”. The word literally means to disappoint or sadden. I recall as a child often wanting to please my parents and even often seeking affirmation. While others may need physical discipline, I have the type of personality that can be broken by knowing that I have let someone down. The ultimate failure is knowing that I have disappointed or saddened my God.
Ephesians 4:30 is written in the context of how important it is to use words that build up and promote unity. When we don’t extend grace in response to the grace he has extended to us, it breaks His heart.
We should honor Him in all things, to include our words and love others. We read in Ephesians 1:13 that we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. This truth is repeated here in 4:30. While our sin cannot remove us from the hand of God, our actions which grieve the Holy Spirit can damage the seal which historically exists to affirm the authority of the Sealer. The point is that our actions and words ultimately serve as evidence of our redemption and a witness to the Hope of Glory.
In a positive respect, our commitment to building others up serves as a positive witness to point others to Jesus. On the flip-side, our refusal to obey the Lord in this regard can inhibit others from seeing the seal of the Spirit in our lives and the glory of God. This breaks His heart and should break ours as well with a motivation toward holiness.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 4:30). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
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