James 3:2b, 5-10 - If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man .... The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
When I was younger, I was pretty naïve. I actually believed lies about me couldn't hurt me if I was innocent. Ha! If I had only known. Because about 20 years ago, three people who hated my family started smearing our reputation in the community; and they said horrible things about us—accusing us of sexual sin and stealing money.
Of course there was a full investigation—we insisted on it; but it didn't really matter when the authorities found us innocent. The lies had spread through the community already, and no amount of proof could call them back. To this day, there are people who firmly believe that I divorced my husband 20 years ago and ran away to Texas; and when they meet me unexpectedly, peacefully shopping in our local grocery store, they drop their pickle jars on the floor in shock!
So James is right—the tongue can do a lot of damage. And who can control it? Nobody but the Lord. He specializes in doing the impossible, after all. He brought us safely through that old attack on our ministry; and He can control our own tongues, and help us to avoid the anger and hatred that tempt us to retaliate with our tongues against our enemies.
But this is only going to happen if we ourselves have Jesus, the very Word of God, living inside us and controlling what we do and say. He can and will make us more and more like Him; He can turn our bitter tongues and hearts into gracious ones that bring life, not death, to those who listen. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue," says the author of Proverbs (Proverbs 18:21a); and when it comes to Jesus, His tongue gives life. He says to us sinful, broken people, "Your sins are forgiven." And about us, Jesus says, "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory that You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:24). Jesus wants us with Him forever; and that is why He died for us and rose again. Now that He lives forever as our Savior and Lord, no lie, no slander, will stand against us. He will save us from them all.
WE PRAY: Lord, when I am under attack by evil tongues, help me! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. When have you seen the damage done by people's tongues?
2. Do you have trouble controlling your tongue? When?
3. How do Jesus' words bring you comfort and life?
Today's Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 29-30 Acts 19:21-41
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