The tongue

One of my favorite passages is from James 3.  It is about taming the tongue. 

¹ Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 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.
 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.

It's so amazing how we can bless and curse with such a small part of our body.  How many times do we say something that is wrong or make fun of someone and watch it change a whole conversation or mood?  How often do we sit there and not say something positive to a brother or sister when all they need is a encouraging or motivating word. 

I'm guilty of these charges.  

I'm working on being more positive but I don't want to be fake about it.  Many times I just need to be quiet because I steer myself away from what is good when I talk.  This passage shows us that if all we do is talk nonsense or wrong then that's what will come out more often than not. My prayer is that I be more positive vocally to people and appreciate them more.

I implore and ask you all to think about being positive, motivating, encouraging to those who are down or with friends.  Think before you joke or put people down...I do believe we are a thin skinned people but that's another blog for another time.  Even still, just remember what you say can leave a lingering effect no matter what it was meant for.  I challenge all 3 of my readers to set the ship right, produce fresh water, and product fruit not something that's rotten....