Worship
As you begin your quiet time today, I encourage you to listen to Rest On Us (Live) (feat. Elyssa Figueroa) by UPPERROOM. You can find the playlist of all the music from our daily devotional with the links to your preferred platform here.
Scripture
Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Devotional
As we grow in our awareness of the Holy Spirit in us, we become more sensitive to Him. We begin to understand more deeply how the Spirit is always moving, working in us and other believers to conform us into the image of Jesus and to bless us through one another. Additionally, because of this work of the Spirit in us we actually end up grieving the Holy Spirit when we choose sin, which is a direct rejection of his power in us, his goal for us, his leading of us, and his warnings not to give into temptation. It’s very significant for our relationship with the Lord when we begin to realise this - that the Spirit indwells us and empowers us as our help to overcome sin when we are tempted, He is always leading us into what’s best for us that we might not be self destructive - or hurt others. As I’m writing this it’s becoming such a powerful realisation, and a sobering one. That the Lord whom I love is grieved when I reject him and choose sin. It saddens Him, causing Him pain.
The second part of this verse is also very powerful, we see an admonition that the Spirit has been given to us also as a seal, a protective stamp of God’s ownership over us that will keep us until the great day. In this way we’ve got to understand the agenda of the Holy Spirit. We aren’t in some kind of probationary period with the Holy Spirit. He’s not like a new manager who invests in us, training us for some new role -constantly evaluating our performance and hoping he doesn’t have to fire us if things don’t work out. He’s not waiting for you to fail - no he’s actually working to fulfill the promise the Lord made to us that he would bring to completion what he started in us. The Spirit is committed to our salvation, to our sanctification and he’s never going to give up on us, no matter how many times we fall, we were sealed by the Spirit for the day of redemption. So relax, don’t be motivated by unhealthy fear of punishment, but rather rest in the wonderful security of the Spirit today and instead be motivated by love. Love for God. That’s what Jesus wants. He said ‘if you love me you’ll keep my commandments’. The Christian’s relationship with God exists as an economy of love, not performance. That’s what God is after in you, your heart, not your stat card.
Relax in your salvation, the Spirit isn’t leaving you - lock in with love, pay attention to his presence and when you are tempted to sin - or in the process of it, remind yourself that you love God and don’t want to grieve the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Lord I’m sorry that my sin has brought you grief, I pray that you would help me to remember this verse when I am tempted with sin. I want to please you, to love you well as you’ve loved me and to bring you delight. Thank you for your forgiveness and the security of your love today, In Jesus name, Amen.