Potty Mouth Replacement
“But among you there must not be . . . obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” (Ephesians 5:3,4)
For a lot of us, this is an awkward little verse. In some school hallways and PG-13 comedies, you might have a hard time finding anything but obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking. Why would Paul make such a big deal about it?
Read theses verses in the context of Ephesians 5 — and they still say the same thing — but you get a better sense for why it matters. Christians should notice a transformation going on in our lives, a change that we’re told over and over to keep participating in. And along the way, we should be dumping any use of vulgar, crude sexual talk or language (even if it’s really funny).
What should we talk about instead? Paul mentions thanksgiving. It’s the perfect replacement for anyone trying to clean up their words. When you begin to spout something that qualifies as obscene, foolish, or coarse, choose to say something thankful, instead.
Think: Do you ever feel convicted that you need to change the words that come out of your mouth? Does it bother you when you catch yourself saying things you don’t think are worthwhile?
Pray: Ask God to convict you when your words are worthless in this way. Ask Him to remind you to say thankful things instead.
Do: Look at the words obscene, foolish, and coarse on an online dictionary. And add another 10 things to your thanks list.
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