28 Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need.
29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).
Ask yourself this: how can we grieve the Holy Spirit? Now really think about this? Ask yourself these questions as you ponder this question. Does the Holy Spirit know all things, even before they are? Does He know who and what we are? Does He know what the Body of Christ is going to do before we do it? Is He the Body’s strength? Is He love? Is He our Advocate? Does He control all things in the One Body? Do all things exist by Him and through Him? This has to be just a saying here for the lost, because if we could actually grieve Him, these Truths would all be out of place. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to intercede on our behalf's when we do mess up, the very times when we would grieve Him. We have been given the Holy Spirit because all of us do grieve Him. That is how we have been made by our Father.
For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32
31 Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).
In Christ we can’t help but do all of these things. Our Father will continually prune us so that we are constantly getting better, John 15:2. Jesus will never leave us or forsake us as He leads us in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake, Hebrews 13:5. Now here is the really cool thing too, we are never condemned, Romans 8:1, as we grow and everything that we do works out for our good, Romans 8:28.
32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
What another great Chapter of Truth!
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