James 3:1-12

Happy New year everybody.  I took an unplanned break from the blog.  Figure it's the first day of the year, let's start it with the Lord.  Had to smile at the providence of God in the topic of today's passage.  It was conviction of a recent conversation that got me to thinking I really need to start doing my Bible study again.

James 3:1-12  

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

I've said it before.  I do this blog with great respect for the Word of God knowing that all I say I will give an answer for.  This is the reason I am not afraid to say, "I don't know.".

² We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 

The entire body, I'll go so far as to say ones entire life is easier to maintain than the tongue. 
 
³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ 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. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

So how do we tame it?  Galatians 5:16-17  ¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. It really is that simple.  Every day recognize the you are a child of God.  Study His word and obey it.  You will not be perfect at first and the change will be gradual, but one day you will look back and realize how much of the filth that comes out of our mouths has changed. 

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.