The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 19 May 2025 — Practical Christian Living
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TOPIC: Practical Christian Living
READ: Ephesians 4:30-32 (NKJV)
- And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
- And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
THE MESSAGE:
Practical Christian living, as outlined in our text, involves living in a way that reflects the character of Christ, guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit. It requires intentionally building positive attitudes while removing negative behaviours.
The foundation of this instruction is in verse 30 which warns believers not to grieve the Holy Spirit, that is to say, the Holy Spirit, being the divine personality within us, should not be grieved by the way we behave.
This instruction demands our consciousness and carefulness in relating with the Holy Spirit.
The other two verses (31-32) instruct the believers to get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, and slander, along with every form of malice. These are emotional vices that can damage our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
You may have some logical explanations for habouring anger, bitterness or malice against someone, but the word of God insists that the culture of the new life in Christ is that you let go.
Why? Because you need a free and open heart to grow spiritually and also meaningfully affect your environment, with Christ.
By so doing, believers can contribute to a peaceful community of believers and as well, be a positive influence in the world around us. How should you live to please the Holy Spirit? Answer for yourself.
PRAYER: My Father, please grant me the grace to live to please you, Amen!
