Do Not Give The
Devil A Foothold
Therefore
each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for
we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun
go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. 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.
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. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for
the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and
slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one
another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:25-32
If
money were to be missing from your wallet, with no explanation, you would
probably be mad. But if you discovered your child was the one who stole the
money, your anger would turn to grief. One use of the word grief is to describe
the sorrow we feel when those we love disappoint us.
When
the Holy Spirit in us is grieved by our actions or attitudes, the result can be
tremendous tension. The Spirit pulls us in one direction, but the lusts of the
flesh pull us in another. If this continues we will begin to feel guilty and
dissatisfied with life. Soon, joy and vigor may diminish within us, only to be
replaced by listlessness and lethargy.
So
do not grieve the Holy Spirit who was given in love to help you. We all need to
put away our bad choices of the flesh and live faithfully for God.
The Christian’s heart is the Spirit’s home.
Our Daily Bread –