Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.[1]
Put away anger and corrupting talk
Ephesians 4:25-32 ESV
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Put away falsehood – any lie and anything untrue
Put away anger – hatred and anything that stirs it up
Put away stealing – taking what is not rightfully yours
Put away corrupting talk – words intended to bring about a negative result for another person
Put away grieving the Holy Spirit – anything that would offend or cause God the Spirit sadness
Put away bitterness – which leads to disobedience and rebellion against God
Put away wrath – anger motivated by selfishness
Put away clamor – shouting and screaming harsh words
Put away slander – especially evil speaking and blasphemy against God
Put away malice – anger that leads to evil or wickedness
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [2]
The Gospel Way Catechism[3]
Question #16
What has gone wrong?
The deepest source of misery in the world is not ignorance, injustice, or the failure to be true to ourselves. It is sin: cosmic treason against our Creator and his rule. Sin corrupts creation, wrecks relationships, and enslaves us to the Evil One.
Question #17
What form does our sin take against God?
We love God’s gifts more than we love the Giver of all good things. We push God from the center and place our trust in ourselves and other created things – dishonoring his name, defying his Word, and disbelieving his love.
Holy God, I sin. Grant that I may grieve because of it. Overthrow my envy, command my tongue, trample down my selfishness, deliver me from the idols of my heart.
O God, the eternal One in Three, help me to know that all things are shadows, but you are substance; all things are quicksand, but you are the mountain; all things are shifting, but you are the anchor.
Give me grace to be kind, pure, and peaceable; grace to live for your glory; grace to be transformed into your likeness.
Take away my mourning and give me music. Still my sighs and fill my being with song. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, my Shepherd, my Lord. Amen.[4]
O Children Come
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Php 4:8.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Ga 5:19–24.
[3] Trevin Wax and Thomas West, The Gospel Way Catechism, 2025, p. 66, 69.
[4] A prayer of corporate confession used in worship at Cayce Presbyterian Church, Cayce, SC on Sunday March 8, 2026.
