The tongue!
The tongue!
A consuming fire and power!
Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James 3:5
If a ship is turned by such a small rudder and goes wherever the pilot directs it to go, and a horse's whole body is turned by a small bit in the tongue, then how much more can our tongue lead us into or out of trouble? The comparison is that if a spark can set a whole forest on fire/ what in the world kind of damage can we and do we do, by the words that come from such a small and tiny member of our body?
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32
A man is not mighty because he dictates or gets the last word, a wise man is!
As I was reading my friend, Candice Lauren’s, 40 day devotional this morning - today’s particular devotion being titled “Your big mouth”, I saw something that I’ve never seen. Not only that but also I was reminded of the time that she sat on my couch and so politely but directly asked me “If I ever shut up!” That got my attention! 😳 That’s a true friend and it was done in love! I needed that directness, awareness, and reminder! That I was doing more detriment and harm than I was good. I was trying to be God and I was therefore making more of a mess out of things.
The Bible says that “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” I am very thankful for good friends that are willing to be honest. I don’t want to hear what I think I want to hear, I want to hear what I need to hear and only she and a few others are able to get across to me like that. I wouldn’t take it so gracefully from just anyone. My friend Michelle does it best. I know she loves me and because she does, sometimes she has to put me in my place.
How many of you are like me and your BIG mouth can get you into more trouble and sin than anything else? Sometimes my words are like vomit, doing more harm and damage than good. It’s the hardest thing to tame! It seems impossible to tame the tongue, but it isn’t. It literally steers our entire life and we hold the will.
It’s a lot easier to put a fire out while it’s still a spark.... but a little spark leads to a whole forest fire.
The word says that where many words are, sin isn’t absent! It also says that he who holds his tongue is wise! God gives us the power but we gotta submit ourselves to Him and His authority and rule. We gotta put ourselves into subjection to Him. We must confess that we can’t do it alone, we need Him. We aren’t powerless. There’s power in surrender and that’s where His power begins.
Sometimes it’s wise to say nothing if your words are gonna get you in trouble. We must learn to discern.
We are told to be quick to listen and slow to speak. That means we need to listen MORE THAN we speak! Words are POWERFUL! They are a weapon that can be used for good or for detriment. It’s important to speak, to encourage, and to uplift but it’s equally important to know when to hold ‘em, to know when to fold ‘em, to know when to walk away, and to know when to run! (As Kenny Rogers would say). I haven’t mastered that yet. Let’s just be honest. We are all a work in progress as long as we’re willing to see the truth and walk in correction. Or we’re walking contrary to! God disciplines those whom He loves. If we receive discipline, we can be thankful, because He deals with us and treats us as sons and daughters.
Here’s what I saw today that I’ve never seen: Candice said in her devotion that “speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Did you see it? Words are Weapons! The word sword has the word ‘word’ in it: “sWORD”. Our words are swords that pierce and do damage or they bring healing! We ought not to be so rash to speak but to think before we speak because words can do more damage than we know. But on the same token, they can do so much good and bring healing to the soul.
There’s nothing better than to be encouraged and appreciated as when someone speaks life into you!
Let’s speak life into each other and if we can’t say nothing nice, let’s just not say nothing at all. We can help keep one another accountable. That doesn’t mean we should be going around telling people to shut up but to be led by the Holy Spirit, to lead by example, and to speak truth only in love. Even if someone does wound us, let’s not repay the same way, but let God speak through our silence. It’s not a sin to be angry, but we’re told to be angry and to sin not. This is when we need discernment and discipline the most. To be led by His Spirit.
We are called to be holy as He is, and not to do as they do. We’re called to be like Him, not the worldy. What would Jesus do? If you must speak, speak the truth in love. If you do it out of hate, then you do it wrongly. There’s a time to speak and a time to be silent. There was a time when Jesus spoke facts but then after that He was silent before His accusers. He didn’t have anything to prove. He knew WHOse He was. We need to learn from that. It’s not a sign of weakness but rather confidence. I pray that we would learn to discern and so reflect Him.
We not only sin when we speak wrongly but we fall short when we hold back words that we should speak. We give an account for not only what we do but what we don’t do. For he or she who knows to do good and does it not, to him or her it’s a sin. Don’t withhold good to whom it’s due. Also, sometimes we even have to speak hard truths but it can be done rightly. Let’s quit cutting each other down with our sWORDS and start lifting up and healing wounds when we see an opportunity!
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment.
For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:35-37
In other words, our words are a reflection of what’s within. So is our silence! Don’t use silence to punish someone or to hold everything in…. Silence is golden - when we want with everything to speak but know we shouldn’t! There’s power in holding back!
Our words matter! They are the very difference between life and death! They do make an impact! There’s power in the tongue! Use your sWORDS wisely and correctly. ⚔️ Speak life. Amen.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
