Taming our Tongues...

Welcome to TUESDAYS TOGETHER (in the WORD). # 26

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This week our reading (as posted on the sidebar under the button) was from Hebrews 12-13; Psalms 60-61; and James 1-4.

Oh people... the Book of James. It is the proverbs of the N.T. Words to live by.
So many passages that speak to me - not just this week - but EVERY SINGLE TIME that I read it. But I will try to pick a few to talk about today...

First, I will start with James 3:5-10

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.

The tongue is set among our members,
staining the whole body,

setting on fire the entire course of life,
and set on fire by hell.

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature,

can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,

but no human being can tame the tongue.

It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With it we bless our Lord and Father,

and with it we curse people who are made
in the likeness of God.

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.

My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

This is a passage that we need to examine from our own perspective and make sure that we are striving to tame this restless evil within. But that is not where I am going today...

Today, I want to ask you this question:

Have you ever been the recipient of this deadly poison? Possibly even from someone that you would consider a friend? Someone close?

If so, then you know the pain that it causes. You know the poison. The footnote in my ESV Bible says, "Evil speech destroys because it comes from Satan himself."

And even when you know where it originates (from Satan) it is hard to ignore when it comes in the form of flesh and blood. It is hard to swallow. It is hard to understand. Basically, it just hurts.

So, what do we do? And I say "we" because I am in this boat with you. I have experienced this. Not recently, but the scars from the wounds are still there.

That takes us back to another passage from this book....

James 1:19-20

Know this, my beloved brothers:

let every person be quick to hear,

slow to speak,

slow to anger;

for the anger of man

does not produce the righteousness of God.

Could that be our answer?
What do we do when we face the hurt from words spoken?

Be quick to hear...
Be slow to speak...
Be slow to anger...
Knowing that the anger that wants to rear it's ugly head in you - will not produce the righteousness of God - in you or in the offender.

Think about it with me. From both sides of the fence.

Oh, Lord, I do not want to be one who is guilty of letting my tongue be that blazing fire that has it's root from Satan and that does much damage to the body of Christ.

But also, Lord, when I am the recipient of such pain - caused by words of others... please help me to remember your Word that teaches me to be quick to hear - and slow to speak. And slow to anger.

Oh the tongue - such a small member...
Such a deadly weapon...
"My brothers, these things ought not to be so."





Now, your turn.

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