Paul the
apostle began to share specific sinful behaviors which the Ephesian
church members were not to be engaged. They included “fornication,
and all uncleanness, or covetousness” which were contrary to
“walking in love, as Christ also has loved us”. In chapter
five and verse four of his letter, Paul included, “filthiness,
foolish talking and jesting” in his list of unseemly behaviors.
We read:
Neither
filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting,
which are
not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
The
verse begins, “Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
jesting,...” Paul began with the words, “Neither
filthiness” which means “obscenity and shamefulness”, “nor
foolish talking” or “silly talk or buffoonery” “nor
jesting” which means “humor, facetiousness, scurrility,
ribaldry and witticism”. The words which were spoken by the
Ephesians were not to be “obscene, silly or scurrilous”.
The verse goes on to
say, “...which
are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” Paul
added, “which are not convenient”
which in Greek is “anēkō ou anēkō”
and
means
“fit or proper”: “but rather”
or “more,
to a greater degree, much, by far, sooner, more willingly and
readily” “giving of thanks”
which means “thankfulness and gratitude”. “Filthy,
foolish and jest-filled”
speaking of the Ephesian church members was not “proper” and
should be replaced with “thankful gratitude”.
When
we consider these words of Paul, we should be challenged in our
speaking. As Christians, our conversations and words should be
carefully observed, and there should be an absence of the “normal”
“worldly” talk that is “filthy, foolish and jesting”.
As Christians are “thankful”
in their speech, they exhibit words that are like unto their Lord
Jesus Christ. Let us allow the Holy Spirit of God to convict us when
we lean toward “unfit” speaking, and may the praise and thanks of
Jesus be on our lips at all times.
Next
time Paul shares with the Ephesians concerning those who do not have
“any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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