“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32

In my studies this morning, the word “clamour” stood out above the other negative behaviors in this text. I wasn’t certain of the definition. When I consulted a dictionary, I found the word to mean shouting or yelling.

Given that this context is malicious and negative attitudes from one person to another, the sort of “shouting” to which Paul refers is the raising of our voices in anger during confrontation. How easy it is to violate the principle in verse! Sadly, we find it most easy to raise our voices against those with whom we are the closest – our wives, children, or family.

This scripture is a good reminder to control one of the smallest, yet powerfully uncontrollable parts of our bodies – our tongues. Rather than scream and yell, our words should be seasoned with grace.

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. – Proverbs 15:1

Originally published November 2014