"The Tongue"
“The Tongue”
Blessings Folk!!
The Word of the Most High God has much to say about the tongue, especially related to what we speak.
Read the following portions of the Word, allow the Lord to apply to your own life…
James 3
1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment,
2 for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.
3 Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal.
4 And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites.
6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.
7 Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man,
8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 We praise our Lord and Father with it, and we curse men who are made in God’s likeness with it.
10 Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way.
11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?
12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
Proverbs 18
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Even Believers are susceptible to the evil of the tongue.
Little words spoken in jest…
Snide comments, often in the form of humor…
Sly jabs accompanied by a smile…
All destroy trust, love, compassion, passion.
Why not give thanks?
Ephesians 5
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Does your tongue speak blessing or does it speak curse?
Do you live filled with joy, or is their an undercurrent of complaint?
Do you manifest a constant complaining spirit?
Do you speak with jabs, innuendo, belittling, snarkiness?
Oh, I know.
Often we say “I’m just kidding”…”it is just jest”.
Believers are not to speak such.
So, let us determine to…
- quit complaining - complaint is simply ingratitude toward God
- quit belittling
- repent over past words...words spoken long ago impact now… I know of marriages where communication is near non-existent because of words spoken decades before...
- allow the Lord to guard our tongues and our hearts.
- forgive and press on.
James 1
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
Proverbs 21
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
Psalm 34
12 (A)Who is the man who desires life
And loves length of days that he may (B)see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.