This was probably because I was saved early on, but the last thing I wanted to do was disappoint my dad. I could be constantly skirmishing with my mom about a host of things, but I didn’t want to get sideways with the giver of cars and extra cash, who presided from his Lazyboy. This was a healthy fear, which was good.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

I read this and I get the same feeling, that it is possible to make my Heavenly Father sad, i.e. grieve, and I don’t want to go there.

After all, he must care for me a lot because he gave his own beloved son to redeem me.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Ephesians 4:31

If I was summoned to the Lazyboy, I’d expect a lecture, and it was in my best interest to nod and say “yes sir.”

Here, with the choice of words, you can’t escape the message to clean up your act.

Malice to me is the worst word on the list, because it’s tacked on for good measure, and it’s all malice. It’s that last bullet fragment that must be fished out of the wound or you’ll die from infection.

The Lord knows us all too well!