“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)
For the last few days, we’ve been looking at how Christians should behave differently from everyone else — how you should be able to tell on the outside that we’re not normal. But the huge idea is that we’re really different on the inside.
At the moment you were saved, God placed His Spirit inside of you permanently. This verse says you were sealed with the Spirit until the day when you will stand face to face with God. In chapter one of this letter, Paul called the Spirit God’s deposit — a guarantee of our future in-person relationship with Him. The Spirit will not leave, even when we sin.
We don’t think about this reality much, but it’s an awesome (and sometimes scary) idea. God’s Spirit is with you every moment of every day — and He’s a person with God’s love for you. He cares so deeply that He’s sad (grieved!) when you start following yourself or the world away from the path of Jesus. He feels a sense of hurt when you choose to lie, steal, say rotten things, or let anger become bitterness.
Think: Is this a new idea to you, that God’s Spirit in us can become emotionally sad when we sin? Why do you think He would be grieved by our choices to not act like Jesus?
Pray: Ask God for the willingness and the ability not to grieve the Holy Spirit. Thank Him for sealing you with His Spirit until the day when you will be with Him in person forever.
Do: Read Ephesians 1:13-15.