Thursday, August 24, 2017

Really?

Thursday, August 24, 2017
We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.  And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.   In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.  But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.  And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire.  It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body.  It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.  People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue.  It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.  Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.  And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth.  Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!  Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?  Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs?  No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.  James 3:3-12(NLT)
It’s not a problem, really; it’s just that rose tree in my backyard doesn’t really know whether it wants to be a rose tree that produces big pink blossoms…or a rose tree that produces little white blossoms.  Really?  Fickle, that tree!
It’s also like that in the human family – we have a hard time making up our minds about all sorts of things.  When Mrs. Preacher and I go to a store there is less than a 5% chance that the decorative pillow we just bought will actually live at our house.  (I save ALL receipts!).  To be fair, the closet in my study is also a disaster; I just can’t make up my mind how to file and arrange all that stuff…so it all gets pulled out often in search of a better system!

Now those kinds of human eccentricities are small potatoes compared to what James is holding up for us to examine.  According to the apostle the human tongue speaking out of both sides of its mouth may be the biggest problem with which the Christian family struggles.
Consider his illustrations:
Small bits for horses’ mouths, Small rudders for Big Ships, and a Small Spark starts a Big Fire –these small items wield huge influence.  But they are insignificant compared to the tongue which, unloosed and undisciplined can produce a lifetime of wickedness.
Then James gives a final illustration salvo – fresh water doesn’t come from bitter sources.  The conclusion is devastating when you apply it to a human life.  The tongue’s medium is words, communication. 
·       If there is untruth coming out, you know the heart lives in a lie.
·       If there is bitter condemnation flowing behind another’s back, you understand the slander came from the darkness of envy hidden within.
·       If the speech is without humility, how can there be a heart willing to forgive?
·       And on, and on, and on…a wildfire of heartache!
Nobody likes to be judged unfairly, but someone who professes to be a Christian, one who is pressing on as Paul wrote, for the high calling of Christ Jesus[2] to become Christ-centered, having the very mind of Christ…if you are hot-after becoming Christ-like, there must not be doublespeak, evil-speaking, or any other kind of foul thing proceeding from your mouth. 
Remember how Paul counseled the Philippian believers:
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Philippians 4:8(NLT)

For You Today

When you think on honorable, pure and lovely things your speaking will also follow the same path; no sewer water from your clean spring!
You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!



[1] Title Image: Courtesy  Russell Brownworth (own work)
[2] Philippians 3:14

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