Grow Up - 3
Epistle to the Ephesians
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:25-32
Paul is telling us what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Speak truthfully. It’s ok to be angry, don’t let it cause you to sin. He further tells us to get rid of anger, rage, and every form of malice. Don’t steal but work with your hands.
And do not give the devil a foothold.
Paul is not laying down unnecessary rules. He is telling us there are some things that we do that can give the devil a foothold. All are related to the commandments that God gave Moses, and all are related to the two commands that Jesus gave, which reiterate the commandments given to Moses.
If my anger overtakes me and I seek revenge or harbor malice in my heart, a fissure forms. A crack in my conscience that allows the enemy to filter into my soul and gives him a foothold or an entry way.
Louie Giglio wrote an entire book about this very topic. Did you ever wonder about the words from Psalm 23, which most of us memorized as children, “He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Why does he do that? Why not prepare the table in a safe pasture where no enemies can reach us?5
“My place at the table didn’t mean that my enemies would be removed from the equation. In fact, the table was set right in the middle of my enemies…My task was to concentrate on the Good Shepherd, the One who owned the table. My invitation was to put my trust in the One who prompted me to lie down in green pastures, the One who led me beside quiet waters and restored my soul…I knew that a major tactic of the Devil was to prowl around my life. So maybe I couldn’t stop the Devil from prowling around my table, but in Jesus’ name I definitely did have the choice whether I allowed the Enemy to sit down.”5
This is exactly what Paul is warning us about. Don’t let the enemy sit down. He’s going to prowl around you looking for a way to destroy you – don’t give him a crack to seep into – don’t let him sit at your table.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
I’ve been reading Dennis Kinlaw’s devotional book repeatedly for several years. He defines a progressive departure from the life of the Spirit of God. Grieving the Holy Spirit is the start. The word grieve indicates a close personal relationship. You can make an enemy mad or angry, but you can’t grieve him. Grieving is a personal hurt that arises from a tender, intimate, and loving relationship.6
Paul is telling us not to hurt the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God within us and is hurt by these attitudes.
It’s easier to cling to our anger and unforgiveness than it is to release them to God. After all that person deserves my anger, even deserves my malice. But if I want to please God and don’t want to grieve the Holy Spirit, my responsibility is to give it to God and keep my eyes on the God of grace – to no longer live in the futile of my own dark understanding and thinking (vs. 17 & 18). I have to put on a new attitude of mind (vs. 23) and put on a new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (vs. 24).
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.