SCRIPTURE: James 3
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. [James 3:9-12]
You can tell which way the wind is blowing by watching which way a flag is flapping.
The same with the heart and the tongue; you can tell the direction of the heart by which way the tongue is flapping.
This is a scary thought, for as James says, we use our words to praise and to curse.
Think about how you spoke yesterday – were there both good and not-so-good words?
The problem is not the tongue, but the ‘source’ of it’s expressions.
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” [Matthew 12:35-37]
Jesus shows that what comes out of the mouth comes from what is inside of us.
What lives in the heart, comes out of the mouth.
Do I complain, grumble, criticize, gossip, lie, boast, condemn, accuse, yell…
These things reveal the nature of my heart.
If what comes out of my mouth is not God-honouring, then what is in my heart is not God-honouring.
Salt water cannot flow from a fresh-water spring.
Think long and hard about the way that you speak, the things that you say, what people hear from your mouth.
This applies to both the bad stuff that we say, but also to the good stuff.
It is not enough to stop speaking in bad ways, we also need to speak in good ways.
We ought to praise God and bless others.
Our words should fulfill the royal law, of loving God and people.
This is what Jesus in me will produce; if I am in Christ, then He will show through me.
People will hear the difference when His Spirit is changing the source within me.
Take time today to consider what is coming out of your mouth.
Does it reflect Jesus, does it honour God, does it bless others?
PRAYER:
Lord, fill my heart so that my mouth overflows with You!
As a small child we used to say, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.’ Criticism, words spoken don’t hurt? Ouch!
Words spoken can hurt. Therefore, I like the small saying, ‘Bite your tongue.’ Remember while chewing your food and you bite your tongue and it brought tears to your eyes? That what words can do to your neighbour. Words can cut to the bone. Words can hurt. And we as kids of the kingdom need to speak the very words of Christ – words of healing, words of hope, words of love, words of kindness. Our words show where our hearts are rooted – in His Word or . . .
Lord help me to be a peace maker showing the fruit of the Spirit in all I say. Make me an instrument of Your peace also with the very words I speak this day. May the words of my mouth sow that I indeed am a kid of the kingdom.
Lord, speak to me, that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou hast sought, so let me seek
Thy erring children lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.
O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee
To weary ones in needful hour.
O fill me with Thy fulness, Lord,
Until my very heart o’erflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.
O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessed face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share!