James 3:5-6 [New American Standard Bible] says: 5. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
6. And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
As you can plainly see in the above scripture the tongue is one of the smallest parts of a human body, but yet it can cause more turmoil than any other body part. Matthew 12:37 says by our words we are justified and by our words we are condemned. I have really had to study about this subject because I always struggled with my tongue. I've had to learn that there comes a time when it is better to be wrong in order to be right. I'm going to share with you some of the things that I have learned over the years about the power of the tongue.
According to God's word we know that evil speaking can only bring about:
(a) discord
(b) broken relationships
(c) destruction of businesses
(d) unnecessary pain and suffering
(e) split churches
(f) hatred
(g) wars
Much needless sorrow and suffering would not exist if it wasn't for the evil of the misused tongue. No good is accomplished by a lying, cheating, gossiping, and deceitful tongue. It is very important that we all take the time to study about what we should say in any given situation. Trials and tribulations can not completely be avoided but we can make them easier if we watch what we say in the midst of those difficult times.
Proverbs 8:6-9 [Amplified version] gives us a checklist that we should pray over and live by:
6. ...for I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things.
7. For my mouth shall utter truth, and wrongdoing is detestable and loathsome to my lips.
8. All the words of my mouth are righteous (upright and in right standing with God); there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.
9. They are all plain to him who understands [and opens his heart], and right to those who find knowledge [and live by it].
If we strive to do what these verses tell us, we will be able to handle anything or anyone who comes our way. People will be glad to talk to you because they'll know that what you're going to say will encourage them through their struggles. This is exactly what being a Christian is all about. No you're never going to be perfect but we should be getting better and better as we spend time daily in the word of God.
James 1:26 [Amplified version] says: If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren). This scripture proclaims that a mere profession of faith without living accordingly is in vain. The kind of faith that saves changes a person. He/she becomes a new creature in Christ. He/her desires, habits and outlook change including the habit of speaking.
A word, once spoken, can never be recalled. A good example of this truth is illustrated in a story of a busybody woman in a small town, a church member, who meddled in other people's lives. Early one morning she saw a young girl returning home, a young man escorting her. This gossiping woman started a rumor about this girl without bothering to find out the reason for her early morning return. As usual, the rumor grew and become scandalous. The girl's reputation was ruined and, in desperation, she committed suicide. The woman that started this malicious gossip then learned the reason that the young lady came home at such an hour. It seems that she had spent the night with a girlfriend, and that friend's older brother brought her home on his way to work. The woman's conscience began to bother her, so she went to her pastor and related the whole story. The pastor advised her to go to a store, buy a box of wheat bran and scatter it over the streets of the town. After following his instructions, she returned for further advice. He told her to go back into the town and gather all of the bran that she had scattered. "This isn't possible", she said. "It is just as impossible to undo the terrible, tragic deed that you have committed as it is to collect the bran again," he replied to the heartbroken woman. Malicious gossip can destroy your life too. Great care should be taken when we talk about anyone.
Humanly speaking, we cannot control our tongue or any other attitude of the mind or heart. Only when we have Jesus in our heart and the power of God as our strength can this be done. We should never say anything that will hurt another in any way, whether they are guilty or not. Galations 6:1 [Amplified version] says: Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also. We must always remember that by the grace of God are we saved, not because we're so good. No one is perfect. We are all subject to make mistakes which is why we should always treat people as we would want to be treated if we were doing wrong.
I know that a lot of this stuff that I have shared with you may seem pretty heavy but it is very important that we are not just saved with a shout and speaking in tongues, we should also be saved with our actions outside of the church. It is difficult to never say anything evil about someone or something. But as soon as we realize that we're wrong, we should do everything in our power to make things right. Just make an effort to speak godly things and I promise you that God will meet you where you are. Again none of us are perfect but we should be striving daily to become more and more like Jesus. When Jesus spoke, things changed. When we speak, things change...but it is up to us to determine whether that is for the better or for the worse.
Remain blessed
According to God's word we know that evil speaking can only bring about:
(a) discord
(b) broken relationships
(c) destruction of businesses
(d) unnecessary pain and suffering
(e) split churches
(f) hatred
(g) wars
Much needless sorrow and suffering would not exist if it wasn't for the evil of the misused tongue. No good is accomplished by a lying, cheating, gossiping, and deceitful tongue. It is very important that we all take the time to study about what we should say in any given situation. Trials and tribulations can not completely be avoided but we can make them easier if we watch what we say in the midst of those difficult times.
Proverbs 8:6-9 [Amplified version] gives us a checklist that we should pray over and live by:
6. ...for I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things.
7. For my mouth shall utter truth, and wrongdoing is detestable and loathsome to my lips.
8. All the words of my mouth are righteous (upright and in right standing with God); there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.
9. They are all plain to him who understands [and opens his heart], and right to those who find knowledge [and live by it].
If we strive to do what these verses tell us, we will be able to handle anything or anyone who comes our way. People will be glad to talk to you because they'll know that what you're going to say will encourage them through their struggles. This is exactly what being a Christian is all about. No you're never going to be perfect but we should be getting better and better as we spend time daily in the word of God.
James 1:26 [Amplified version] says: If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren). This scripture proclaims that a mere profession of faith without living accordingly is in vain. The kind of faith that saves changes a person. He/she becomes a new creature in Christ. He/her desires, habits and outlook change including the habit of speaking.
A word, once spoken, can never be recalled. A good example of this truth is illustrated in a story of a busybody woman in a small town, a church member, who meddled in other people's lives. Early one morning she saw a young girl returning home, a young man escorting her. This gossiping woman started a rumor about this girl without bothering to find out the reason for her early morning return. As usual, the rumor grew and become scandalous. The girl's reputation was ruined and, in desperation, she committed suicide. The woman that started this malicious gossip then learned the reason that the young lady came home at such an hour. It seems that she had spent the night with a girlfriend, and that friend's older brother brought her home on his way to work. The woman's conscience began to bother her, so she went to her pastor and related the whole story. The pastor advised her to go to a store, buy a box of wheat bran and scatter it over the streets of the town. After following his instructions, she returned for further advice. He told her to go back into the town and gather all of the bran that she had scattered. "This isn't possible", she said. "It is just as impossible to undo the terrible, tragic deed that you have committed as it is to collect the bran again," he replied to the heartbroken woman. Malicious gossip can destroy your life too. Great care should be taken when we talk about anyone.
Humanly speaking, we cannot control our tongue or any other attitude of the mind or heart. Only when we have Jesus in our heart and the power of God as our strength can this be done. We should never say anything that will hurt another in any way, whether they are guilty or not. Galations 6:1 [Amplified version] says: Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also. We must always remember that by the grace of God are we saved, not because we're so good. No one is perfect. We are all subject to make mistakes which is why we should always treat people as we would want to be treated if we were doing wrong.
I know that a lot of this stuff that I have shared with you may seem pretty heavy but it is very important that we are not just saved with a shout and speaking in tongues, we should also be saved with our actions outside of the church. It is difficult to never say anything evil about someone or something. But as soon as we realize that we're wrong, we should do everything in our power to make things right. Just make an effort to speak godly things and I promise you that God will meet you where you are. Again none of us are perfect but we should be striving daily to become more and more like Jesus. When Jesus spoke, things changed. When we speak, things change...but it is up to us to determine whether that is for the better or for the worse.
Remain blessed
3 comments:
Love this, because the tougue will utter anything, but the heart never lies, which is why i always watch a persons actions to see if it matches the speech. Peter truly believed that he would die with the LORD, but the LORD reveal his heart to him. Humans of themselves could never control the tougue, you really have to ask the LORD to help you with this, because it is truly the hardest part to tamed.
Love this post and it is so true! I constantly have to remind myself of this! BTW, I love the picture!!! Too funny!!!
Thanks for joining my blog, I'm returning the favor. Hope to get to know you better!
Blessings,
Debby
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