Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30, NIV 1984).
My Musings – How might we cause distress, grief, or sorrow to the Holy Spirit? By failing to “get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice… sexual immorality…any kind of impurity, or of greed… obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking.” (Ephesians 4:31–32, 5:3-4, NIV 1984). And this, of course, is not an exhaustive list.
These are things that make us “conform…to the pattern of this world, [rather than being] transformed by the renewing of [our] mind. [So that we] will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2, NIV 1984).
What could be more “good, pleasing and perfect” than being “imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and [living] a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1–2, NIV 1984)? To this we are called.
My Advice – “Be very careful, then, how [we] live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, 19–20, NIV 1984). Let’s not grieve the One who gave us eternal life and who enables us to be “imitators of God” in the way in which we live our lives.
The Brew Is A Musing 