Reading: James 3
My Verse: "Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!" (3:5)
We are amazing beings, indeed! You, Lord God, created us to be communicators. You walked in the Garden of Eden to talk with Adam! Here James addresses this great importance of our speech and the dreadful misuse of this great gift from You. An unbridled tongue can cause such havoc.
The metaphors used here are wonderful. Our tongue, though a small member of our body has large consequences. James likens it to . . .
"bits in the mouths of horses" (3:3)
"ships . . though so great . . are steered by a very small rudder" (3:4)
"a fire" (3:6)
James goes on to speak of the dreadfulness of an unbridled tongue. He asks how is it possible to bless God and then curse man who is made in God's image. More wonderful metaphors illustrate this concept.
"does a fountain send forth from the same opening fresh water and bitter?" (3:11)
" Can a fig tree . . . bear olives?" (3:12)
"...a grapevine figs?" (3:12)
"Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water." (3:12)
Verse 10 states, "These things, my brethren, ought not to be."
The tongue truly exposes our souls for James goes on to teach of the root causes of an unbridled tongue. They are jealousy, envy, selfish ambition, pride in self and defiance to the Truth. (3:14)
Lord God, I have uttered words I would so like to take back. Forgive me for the hurt, pain, confusion I have caused others. I cry out to You to put a guard over my tongue this day. Put a guard over my heart that sin would not have its way in my life. I pray for the "harvest of righteousness." I pray for a "peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts."
"Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord. Keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalms 141:3).
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear" (Ephesians 4:29 NASB).
Yes, an unbridled tongue is a fearful and dreadful thing. Only You, Lord God, can keep it in check if we but ask You to do so.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: "Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!" (3:5)
We are amazing beings, indeed! You, Lord God, created us to be communicators. You walked in the Garden of Eden to talk with Adam! Here James addresses this great importance of our speech and the dreadful misuse of this great gift from You. An unbridled tongue can cause such havoc.
The metaphors used here are wonderful. Our tongue, though a small member of our body has large consequences. James likens it to . . .
"bits in the mouths of horses" (3:3)
"ships . . though so great . . are steered by a very small rudder" (3:4)
"a fire" (3:6)
James goes on to speak of the dreadfulness of an unbridled tongue. He asks how is it possible to bless God and then curse man who is made in God's image. More wonderful metaphors illustrate this concept.
"does a fountain send forth from the same opening fresh water and bitter?" (3:11)
" Can a fig tree . . . bear olives?" (3:12)
"...a grapevine figs?" (3:12)
"Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water." (3:12)
Verse 10 states, "These things, my brethren, ought not to be."
The tongue truly exposes our souls for James goes on to teach of the root causes of an unbridled tongue. They are jealousy, envy, selfish ambition, pride in self and defiance to the Truth. (3:14)
Lord God, I have uttered words I would so like to take back. Forgive me for the hurt, pain, confusion I have caused others. I cry out to You to put a guard over my tongue this day. Put a guard over my heart that sin would not have its way in my life. I pray for the "harvest of righteousness." I pray for a "peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts."
"Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord. Keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalms 141:3).
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear" (Ephesians 4:29 NASB).
Yes, an unbridled tongue is a fearful and dreadful thing. Only You, Lord God, can keep it in check if we but ask You to do so.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
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