And a reading of this passage should break ours at the very thought that grieving Him is possible. After all, the Spirit was gifted to us by Jesus Himself. At His departing from the earth to endure a suffering & punishment I deserved, He benevolently imparted His spirit to divinely tend to our needs in place of His physical presence.
The assignment is clear: Do not grieve the Spirit. Grieve here means to afflict with sorrow, or make sad. In addition the commission is to not “quench the Spirit” (1 Thess 5:19) as well as we, “... must not resist the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 7:51)
And we grieve Him in many ways. With: open & gross sin, all forms of anger and bitterness, corrupt thoughts & desires, ingratitude, neglect, resistance, unbelief, and pride.
Verse 31 tells us what to rid ourselves of: bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander, and all evil behavior. Instead, we should aim to be steadfast in those behaviors that contradict these characteristics. We should seek for contentment, peace, joy, kindness, compliments, and overall godly goodness.
He is a jealous God and grieves when we maintain any degree of love of world. Imagine a momma witnessing her child’s love and affection softening toward another and not her. It’s nearly too difficult to bear the thought. The same is the feeling of our God when He sees us turn our backs on Him to enter upon worldly pursuits.
We grieve the Spirit when we insist on our ways without surrendering to the One who knew us when we were being formed and fashioned in the womb. The only One with whom our complete and utter devotedness is expected.
May I seek to never grieve His glorious Spirit!
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