James 3: 1-12 v 1b “For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.”
We who teach will be judged more strictly. 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. A small rudder makes a huge ship turn. 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. The tongue is a flame of fire. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
I just went on a yoga retreat, and we went for a walk in the forest. Twenty women walking and talking as we went. Then the leader asked us to be silent for a portion of the walk. I literally had to shake my body to be calm enough for the silent walk. I had to put out the fire aroused by my words to be silent. Walking in silence was a totally different experience. Such a small thing stilling my tongue changed me.
Then I was reminded of another good thing when the tongue was still: –
Just as we can simply control and horse or a ship we can control our tongue however hard it may be to Praise God and to think twice when we curse those who are made in the image of God. Draw water from the fresh spring , and not the salty one.
Prayer: Heavenly Father who made all in your own image, help us today to speak kindly too all we meet and offering silence if needed, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
CrossWalk 