Daily Bread 2010 - James 3
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
As we see again James is a very practical letter. In chapter 3, it addresses taming the tongue. It uses analogies of horses, ships and fires to show that though the tongue is small. it can do much damage or do much good. Teachers teach with their tongues and will be accountable for what they teach. We are also accountable for our words and need to realize how quickly our tongues can set off a forest fire.
So like any part of the body, the tongue can be used for evil or for good. And our tongue, like the fresh spring that produces fresh water, is an indicator of our soul. A fresh spring cannot produce anything but fresh water, and so the writer reminds the believers in the early church that out of a Christian should come words that: build up not tear down, bless not curse, and pray for not gossip about another.
How do you use your words? Do they build up or tear down? Do you have control of your tongue or do you often say things you wish you wouldn’t have said? We are all human and we will say things from time to time we wish we could take back, but we just as the fresh spring should produce fresh water, increasingly our words should reflect the condition of our hearts.
When Christ is in the center of our lives, and we are living by abiding in God’s Spirit, our words are more likely to reflect what is controlling us? That is why our words are a good indicator of the condition of our soul.
Heavenly Father, we realize our tongues can do much damage or much good. Change our hearts and minds so the fruit of our lips will give thanks and praise to you, and be of encouragement to those we love around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
As we see again James is a very practical letter. In chapter 3, it addresses taming the tongue. It uses analogies of horses, ships and fires to show that though the tongue is small. it can do much damage or do much good. Teachers teach with their tongues and will be accountable for what they teach. We are also accountable for our words and need to realize how quickly our tongues can set off a forest fire.
So like any part of the body, the tongue can be used for evil or for good. And our tongue, like the fresh spring that produces fresh water, is an indicator of our soul. A fresh spring cannot produce anything but fresh water, and so the writer reminds the believers in the early church that out of a Christian should come words that: build up not tear down, bless not curse, and pray for not gossip about another.
How do you use your words? Do they build up or tear down? Do you have control of your tongue or do you often say things you wish you wouldn’t have said? We are all human and we will say things from time to time we wish we could take back, but we just as the fresh spring should produce fresh water, increasingly our words should reflect the condition of our hearts.
When Christ is in the center of our lives, and we are living by abiding in God’s Spirit, our words are more likely to reflect what is controlling us? That is why our words are a good indicator of the condition of our soul.
Heavenly Father, we realize our tongues can do much damage or much good. Change our hearts and minds so the fruit of our lips will give thanks and praise to you, and be of encouragement to those we love around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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