Have you ever blurted something out and then had instant regret? Or maybe you’ve said things in the heat of the moment and meant them, but then after some reflection and time, you felt they were unfair? I certainly know that I have done both.
The Bible talks a lot about the words that spill from our mouths. Jesus said, “But the words you speak come from the heart – that’s what defiles you” (Matthew 15:18). While James, His half-brother, wrote, “Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire… People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue… Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right” (James 3:2-10).
This little piece about how powerful the tongue can be is so true. I was taught as a child that, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” However, it’s not true, because our words have so much power. We can choose to build up or tear down with them. We can use our words to speak life with kindness and gentleness, and we can practice self-control by not speaking (or writing - Hello, Internet) every single thing we think. We can give every thought to God though and let Him be our filter.
This week let’s practice building, and I’m not talking about physical structures. Rather let’s practice being “...quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” (James 1:19). Let’s use our words to bring life, building people up and of course, sharing the good news of Jesus’ birth, life, and resurrection, to help build the Kingdom of Heaven.
Have a great week, friends!
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