"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. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." - James 3:6-12
I have heard it said that the Lord gave us two ears and one mouth expecting that we would listen twice as much as we speak. I have known, and currently know, people who hardly listen but are always ready to speak. Any names come to your mind? :) The tongue can be sharp as a knife - cutting people down while at other times it can bless others. But what is in your heart will find its way out through what you say. You may try to control it but "no human being can tame the tongue".
"The good person [Christian] out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person [Someone without Christ] out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." - Luke 6:45
I make it a point to practice listening to others first. You listen long enough, and you can hear someone's heart. It does not matter what we profess on Sunday - but what we say on Monday and the other 5 days of the week. It always amazes me at how easily profanity can roll off of the Christian tongue. But they are just words you say?
"Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving." - Ephesians 5:4
This is especially a problem with men. If I were to ask those men if they know that we are to love God and love others - they would surely say "Of Course!" If they know we are ambassadors for Christ - "Absolutely!" But how does what we say measure against our commitment to love God and be salt and light.
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The words we speak might take the form of gossip, carnality, harsh criticism, condemnation, spite, ah, the list is long. As much as we might feel justified in what we say, God sees the heart. You might fool other Christians who are not around during your carnal moments, but God is always around. Don't you know that you are the living temple of the Holy Spirit?
"And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." - Luke 16:15
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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