Read James chapter 3 VERSE: James 3:11-12–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. TRUTH: We must be one or the other. As James concludes his section over the evils of the tongue, he’s already reminded us of the dangers of positive words and negative words coming from the same mouth. Here, he’s reminding us that if we are saying that we are of Christ and that we belong to Christ, then the words that come out of our mouth should be a…

Read James chapter 3 VERSE: James 3:10–Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. TRUTH: It’s been very easy for people to borrow the old adage and talk out of both sides of their mouth. They say one thing to one person and something different to someone else. They praise God and curse others. How does that happen? People have not taken control of their tongue. We must realize that God is the only one who can help us to control what we say, but we must be willing to let Him. Otherwise, we will end up continuing to do the…

Read James chapter 3 VERSE: James 3:9–With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. TRUTH: James is showing how we use the tongue for double purpose. We praise God and thank Him for everything that He has done. Then we also curse those around us, the very people that God loves, made in His own image, and came to die for.  The question is, how can we love and praise the one and curse the others with the very same tongue. This is why we need God to tame our tongue so that we use…

Read James chapter 3 VERSE: James 3:7-8–All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. TRUTH: James continues explaining how deadly and dangerous the words that we say can be. It is so easy to allow our tongues to get ahead of our brains and the words come crashing out of our mouths before we actually think about them. Once said, they can never be unsaid. We have to make a conscious effort every day not to allow our tongues to run away with…

Read James chapter 3 VERSE: James 3:6–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. TRUTH: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never harm me.” This may be the saying that children say, but nothing is further from the truth. The words that we say and the words that others say to us go a long way in shaping who we are and who we will be come. Do we speak words of life and encouragement to…

Read James chapter 3 VERSE: James 3:5–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. TRUTH: The words we say are so important and so impactful. We can build up people and we can tear them down very quickly with just a word. As we are going through our day, what type of fire are we starting with our tongues. Do we start a forest fire of positive words and encouragement and truth with grace? Or, do we start a destructive fire of anger and negativity? RESPONSE: Father, keep my tongue…

Read James chapter 3 VERSE: James 3:3-4–When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. TRUTH: James is giving examples of how influential something very small can be in our lives. The tongue is very small and yet it can be devastating in it’s power and destruction if we allow or tongue to say things that are hurtful and mean. Are we in control of what we say and…