Beyond the Gospels: James

Today's verses: James 3:1-12
[What does James have to say today? Open the link in the reference above or get your Bible.]

Are you convicted? or offended? by what our brother James said to us today? He said some hard things about our tongues and the words they speak:

• It's small but boastful.
• It's a world of evil.
• It carries a fire straight from hell.
• It's untamable.
• It's a restless evil.
• It's full of deadly poison.
• It is either good or bad, but cannot be both.

I can't help but think of what Jesus said about our words:

For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Matthew 12:34 NASB

What's been coming out of your mouth?

Gossip?

Slander?

Lies?

Cursing?

Anger?

Abuse?

Complaints?

Excuses?

Encouragement?
Compliments?

Praise?

Thanks?

Truth?

____________?

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters,

this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?

Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

James 3:10-12

James makes it clear. Our words steer our lives. What we speak is who we are. What we say is where we are going. And what we use to praise God should never be used to hurt another person.We may say the right things at times, but what is the motive behind our words? Is it love? or is it the desire to look good? flatter?

I hear James say that our words reveal what's in us, and if it's primarily marked by sinful sayings and salty rhetoric, we need to have a reality check on where we are when it comes to our faith. That's what he's been talking to us about. Faith. And when faith fills our hearts it's evident through our actions and words. Faith-full Believers act and sound more like Jesus than the world.

Fresh or salty.

Pure or tainted.

What comes out of our mouths reflects exactly what's in our hearts.

Lord Jesus, have mercy. Open my ears to what I say.

Tender my heart with conviction and true repentance.