-November 22, 2024-
Good morning beloved, happy Friday,
“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”
(James 3:8).
The tongue has caused more problems, ruined more relationships, hurt more feelings, and brought more regrets than anything else. It has led to arguments and even deaths.
James described the tongue as, “an unruly evil and full of deadly poison.” That’s pretty awful! We have all said things that we have later regretted and had to apologize for. Words can hurt more than any weapons of earth.
The tongue can be described as: a lying tongue, a spiteful tongue, a profane tongue, an angry tongue, a sharp tongue, a deadly tongue. This little, but powerful muscle inside our mouths has caused us big problems.
Words spoken with anger, bitterness, malice, slander, or gossip can wreck lives: our own as well as others. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
Our words can either help or hinder; build up or break down; uplift or upset; be a blessing or a burden. James devotes just over half a chapter of his epistle to the tongue. We all need to hear and take heed to his message on the tongue.
Jesus said in Matthew 15:11, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” He also spelled it out in no uncertain terms, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36).
By the power of the Holy Spirit we can control what we say or don’t say—in fact, sometimes being silent can avoid trouble. There are times that the tongue though can break out of its cage at the worse possible times.
Have a blessed day being careful of what we say. Stay safe and healthy.
Speak the right words, at the right time, in the right way at home or away.
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 