"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 4:30-31
This Just In: People Seem to Squabble
If one did a brief survey of human history they would easily discover at least one (and without a doubt many more) undeniable absolute truths: People have a hard time getting along with one another.
In his epistle to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul calls upon the Ephesians to be kind and compassionate with one another, going as far as giving the imperative to "forgive" each other, just as Christ had forgiven them. Of course the implication of this imperative text is that the people in the Ephesian church weren't getting along all that well. They were struggling with bitterness, rage and anger and because of that they were brawling, slandering and engaging in all kinds of malice towards one another. According to Paul, this grieved the Holy Spirit.
So, what about us?
If bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slandering and malice grieved the Holy Spirit 2000 years ago shouldn't we assume that the same behavior from us today would also grieve the Holy Spirit today? Yes, it would be very safe to assume that assertion to be true.
Who do you hold bitterness against? Do you struggle with rage or anger towards others? Perhaps it's a co-worker or more likely a spouse that you are guilty of slandering. Regardless of who it is, the Scriptures are clear that it is not acceptable behavior for Christians to be involved with. So the question being begged is this: how do I not act this way towards others?
Life Through the Spirit
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other" - Galatians 5:22-26
It's interesting to note that "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" is described by Paul in Galatians as "the fruit of the Spirit" and not the fruit of the man. This of course is consistent with the rest of the Scripture that claims that the righteousness of man is worthless in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6).
Briefly stated, the fruit of the Spirit is produced as the Christian yields or submits to the authority of God in his or her own life. Jesus was asked by the Pharisees what the greatest commandment of God is:
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these" - Mark 12:29-31
So Then, What is Love?
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" - 1 Cor. 13:1-8
The Solution?
Duh...instead of harboring bitterness, rage and anger in your life, yield to the Spirit's desire to produce "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control."
