Scripture Sunday - The Tongue

James 3:3-10

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 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.

 

I've been thinking a lot about the tongue lately. As the verses above say, the tongue can be an evil thing or it can be a blessed thing. Sarah and I have been blessed and encouraged by the words of others, and, I would hope and pray that others have been encouraged  by what we say as well.

 

Unfortunately, we have also experienced the evil side of peoples tongues and, yes, I am ashamed to say, God has convicted us when we have been on the giving end of hurtful feelings caused by our own tongues. 

 

I have begun writing a series of blog posts about gossip and its dangers. I plan to include how we can be healed from the hurt of gossip and how we can be forgiven if we have hurt others. For now, though, since this is Scripture Sunday, I am going to let the verses above stand for themselves and allow God to speak to you and say whatever needs to be said. That's the way it should be anyway. Man's words can never top God's words.