Don’t cause God pain
Far too many people have a childlike and poor concept of who God is. While God calls for us to have a simple childlike faith that is not the same as a childish faith. The stereotypical picture of an old man with a white beard and a long white robe is a poor image of God who is actually a spirit. Others think they have graduated to an image of God as some spirit or force way out there somewhere who cannot be moved or touched by human behavior or decisions, but that is not true. Unfortunately we can cause God to feel pain and regardless of how much I say that is the last thing I want to do, I¹m concerned I do that far too often. Do you cause God pain? How in the world can we cause God pain? While we obviously cannot hurt him physically since he is a spirit, he is also a person with a mind, will, and emotions. And as a living person who loves and cares we can hurt him deeply emotionally. This is true of all three persons of the trinity. God the father was hurt and angry over the rebellion of his people Israel in the days of the Old Testament. When the people of the city of Jerusalem continued to reject Christ as the messiah the Bible says he literally wept over them. It broke his heart and caused him great pain. When we sin or suppress the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives we cause God to grieve. ³Do not bring sorrow to God¹s Holy Spirit by the way you live² (Ephesians 4:30). Remember that the Holy Spirit is God and is a person. Christians worship one God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While we will never fully comprehend the trinity, realize that as a person the Holy Spirit has a mind, will, and emotions. The Holy Spirit is not a force or just some different name for the presence of God. He is fully God and we can cause him sorrow. Sin and rebellion always cause God pain and sorrow. God knows how destructive sin is and how it destroys us and he wants to spare us this and draw us towards himself. Many of us know that the attitudes and actions that cause God sorrow are the habits of our old life. God tells us to ³let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like Godtruly righteous and holy² (Ephesians 4:23-24). Paul is very practical and specific about what causes us to grieve the Holy Spirit. He tells us to ³stop telling lies,² and ³if you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.² When I refuse to work hard or refuse to give generously I cause the Holy Spirit sorrow. When we use ³foul or abusive language², we cause the Holy Spirit sorrow. Several studies show that most Americans admit they lie several times every day and we all know how often most people let their language fly. The more I read in Ephesians the more I realize I probably have caused God more sorrow than I ever realized. My true desire is to bring God great joy. I want God to be able to say about me what he said about King David, ³a man after my own heart.² Let¹s choose to bring God great joy this day.
