AS DEARLY LOVED CHILDREN

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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“I am not mad at you, I am just disappointed.” Wow, those words hit me hard when I was a young man. It always hurt worse to know that my actions somehow caused sadness or grief in the hearts of my parents. Whatever the punishment for my actions would be, the sting of disappointment always seemed to last the longest. 

In the passage we are looking at in today’s devotional, we hear that our choice to turn away from our true identity and nature as gifted to us by Jesus Christ does more than merely bringing pain and misery into our lives, it grieves the heart of God. 

Let’s listen to how this teaching is presented in the passage that follows: 

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. 

5:1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 

(Ephesians 4:30-5:2 NIV11)

What does it mean for you and I to grieve the Holy Spirit? 

In context, it means that we choose to live in a way that does not match the truth of who Jesus Christ has made us to be thanks to his work on the cross. 

In Ephesians 1:13-14 we are told the following:

“13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

The Work of the Spirit

As followers of Jesus we are given the eternal presence and Spirit of the Lord. This gift does more than provide us access to the gift of eternal life, the Holy Spirit actively works within us to enable us to live out our new identity as those who have been set free from our old sinful nature. 

It is the Spirit of God that makes us new in Christ, that unites us with Christ as we die to self and are born again into the life of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God makes us who we are in Christ. 

Spurn

And so when we spurn the work and will of the Spirit by denying our new nature and pretending to return to our old sinful nature, we bring grief or disappointment into the heart of the Lord. This disappointment does not diminish God’s love for us nor does it set aside his will and desire for our life, but it does grieve the Spirit of God to see the pain our choices bring. 

Much like a loving parent, even though we act in disappointing ways, the Lord will keep loving us, keep working to provide for us, protect us, and lead us into the life that the Lord desires for us. 

Joy

If we want to turn this sad reality into a time of joy and thanksgiving, what do we need to do?

We need to return to the truth of who we really are as children of God and stop pretending that we are still serving our old broken spirit and sinful flesh. We need to listen to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and turn from our rebellious ways, seeking instead to be people who live out their true self. 

Instead of focusing on all the ways that we have or are currently struggling in our obedience to the Lord’s will, let us focus on becoming men and women of God whose lives match our true nature and identity. 

Today, why not make this commitment to the Lord…

•   Lord Jesus Christ, because I am a dearly loved child of God, I want to follow your example and walk in your ways. 
•   Help me give you glory as I allow your Holy Spirit to show me the depth of your love. 
•   Thank you Lord for loving me and calling me into your service. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

Copyright © 2024 Ryan Laden – All Rights Reserved.

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