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!
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