grieve

i came across something today that was shocking.  a verse that i had read hundreds of times (i know that makes me sound really spiritual), but never really understood the full meaning of it.  the verse is ephesians 4:30 (NLT) - “Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live.”  the message translation says, “don’t grieve God, don’t break his heart.  his Holy Spirit moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself.  don’t take such a gift for granted.”  ok, here is why i was shocked…  i looked up the greek word for “grieve” and found that it was ‘lupete’ (loo-petee). It means pain a husband or a wife feels who’s just discovered that the love of their life has been unfaithful to them. That’s got to be a very serious kind of pain (a pain that i pray i never have to feel in my marriage).  the hurt experienced when your heart is shattered by someone you trusted and loved with all your heart.  

think back on a situation where someone you love betrayed you or was unfaithful to you.  this verse is a harsh reminder that every time we rebel and sin against God - it grieves him.  when we pull a “lupete” - God is deeply wounded.  paul was not sharing this as a suggestion.  paul was commanding Christians to stop sinning, to quit living for themselves and to purpose not to hurt God with their dark thoughts, wrong attitudes and sinful behavior.

the best thing that we could do this year is to focus our energy on pleasing God, obeying him and living the way we know he wants us to live.  paul encourages us in hebrews 12:1 (cev), “we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go.  and we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.”  

i pray right now wherever you are - you would take a minute to let go of anything that you know has grieved God.  maybe you feel like God is distant or that he is not paying attention to you.  i’ve found in my life that it is usually because of sin that is hindering my relationship with him (aka grieving the Holy Spirit).  isaiah 59:2 (cev) says, “your sins are the roadblock between you and your God.  that’s why he doesn’t answer your prayers or let you see his face.”

jesus said, “if you love me, then you will obey me”.  prove your love to God by living obediently and free from stubborn sins.  in 2009, determine to bring pleasure, not pain, to God.