Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Ephesians 4:25, 31
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Colossians 3:8
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 1 Peter 2:1
Biblehub: The Greek word here is apotithémi (Ephesians 4:25 / Colossians 3:8 / James 1:21 / 1 Peter 2:1) which speaks of deliberately setting something aside. In the New Testament the word moves from a concrete act—laying down clothes—to a moral and spiritual imperative—casting off sinful habits and adopting Christ-like virtues. Nine occurrences trace a movement from narrative description (Matthew and Acts) to repeated exhortation in the epistles, shaping a theology of decisive renunciation followed by renewal.
Biblehub: The Greek word verb airó (Ephesians 4:31) appears 101 times in the Greek New Testament, expressing two main actions: lifting or carrying something upward, and removing or taking something away. Context determines whether the sense is positive (raising, bearing) or negative (eliminating, disposing). The word’s flexibility allows writers to move effortlessly from the physical to the spiritual, from a literal act of hoisting a net to the redemptive removal of sin.
So what do we do when the culture and social atmosphere turns toxic around us? We must become ‘change agents’ and thermostats. This CANNOT be done through our human resources and own strength, but only by tapping into the indwelling Holy Spirit that now resides in our body.
Do you give Him that chance? Do you welcome Him to change you and to work in and through you? Do you listen to Him when He convicts you of sin and repent and change your ways? Does He ask you to pray for His purposes? Does He guide your prayer for others? To come to this way of life – you will have to surrender to Him and learn His ways. You will have to ‘put away’ your ‘old ways’, and adopt His new ways of thinking, seeing, and praying.
You will have to learn how to recognize His voice within you. How? Listen in your ‘heart’ / inward soul for His direction and ‘still small voice’. Sometimes He will remind you of scripture. When that happens – look it up. Read it in context and begin asking Him questions while asking Him to help you understand what He wants you to do. Learn to ‘dig’ deep with Him in the scriptures.
Learn to use tools that help you understand and which will help you learn to ask better questions of Him. Become a good ‘student’ of the Holy Spirit. This will mean having courage to step out and actually do what He is asking you to do. Being willing to look like a ‘fool’ / crazy person for Him. Boldness in the Holy Spirit will look VERY different than what the world knows or thinks.
To ‘put away’… certain parts of your old life will take discipline and determination on your part. It will take asking Him to ‘renew’ your mind and soul with His Fruit and ways. Learning how to surrender every morning to Him will become the habit of investing your day correctly for eternity for HIS purposes.
Father – We kneel before You! Jesus – show us the WAY! Holy Spirit give us Your ‘marching orders’ for this day! Be with US Lord as we want to be Your faithful ambassadors today.