Once while in a prayer meeting, I heard a brother prayed somewhat like this: “Lord, help me to keep my big mouth shut until I know what I am saying… Amen”. I think James the brother of Jesus also thought the same thing. He was probably writing from the same kind of experience when he said, “People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:7-8, NLT).
If you think James’s
reaction is a little extreme, ask a Christian leader how much harm is being
done in his or her organization, church or group by negative gossip, criticism,
lies or part-truths being spread about – and just how much time is being wasted
by Christians in useless chatter. Or just turn on to our local television news
and see how much damage is being done by mere tongue! Examples are all around us.
The tongue is one of God’s most precious gifts to us. You can use your words, both spoken and written, to
help, to encourage and build up other Christians, and to bring the
not-yet-Christians to a fuller understanding of the kingdom of God and the
relationship that God wants to have with them through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Do not let your words
(again, both spoken and written words) be a hindrance to God’s work rather than
an instrument for it. Use it to spread the Truth, not lies; to bring tears of
repentance and joy not tears of hopeless brokenness; to make people come closer
to Christ not away from Him. Therefore, do not just think before you speak –
pray as well! Amen.
THINK BIG.
START SMALL. GO DEEP.
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