I love it when the Word of God points out opposites in a way we don’t usually think of them.

I was just reading Ephesians as a response to a prayer I’ve been lifting up lately for a circumstance of mine. I came across some verses I needed for encouragement. But on what seems an unrelated note, I also came across this:

“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:3-4‬ ‭NASB‬‬

So, basically, giving thanks is the opposite of all those behaviors?

It’s really easy to think of sins as something in their own category, completely separate from anything good. But I’ve noticed that a lot of times, this case included, they are the opposite end of a spectrum that includes both good and evil. That makes sense because sin is designed to cancel out good, notwithstanding that our God who is the source of all good cannot be stopped by any evil.

So, when I say something hurtful, unnecessary, gross, or impure, I’m doing the opposite of giving thanks.

When I give thanks, I’m not thinking about ways to distort or destroy the world.

When I’m saying vulgar things about the world or the people in it, I’m not thinking about how I degrade something God made beautiful.

How could I possibly think about that if I’m not grateful for them to begin with?

Well, my mind is thoroughly blown.

Thankfully, my bad cannot stop God’s good. Life can be made pure again.