“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.” James 3:5
The tongue is a very small part of the body that is hidden inside the mouth, yet it is extremely powerful. Notice in Genesis that it was by God’s spoken word that the world you see today was brought into existence. God’s Word is described as living and active. It is powerful. Your words also carry a lot of power.
As James states, a person’s tongue will make a great boast about something. How often do you hear of someone who boasts about his getting ready to do something great, but that event never occurs. Many people boast about what they are going to do and, yet, never do it. This tongue also is like spark. Just like a small spark can ultimately burn an entire forest down, the tongue can do a lot of damage.
You may remember the old childhood saying of “sticks and stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This statement is false. If you tell a person that they are a failure and cannot do anything, they will believe it and act that way. Words can build up or tear down. Many fights and wars have been started because of words being said. Words that are a lie, grow and cause a lot of damage. Words of boasting cause envy and anger. Words of defamation tear down and destroy.
Your words should be ones that glorify God and build other people up. Who will listen to you if today you crush a person with your words and tomorrow you try to talk of love to him? People will no longer trust you. Your words are powerful and can be used to build or destroy. Jesus did not come to destroy, but to build God’s kingdom. You are to act the same way Jesus did. Speak in such a way as to build His kingdom.
I pray that today God will help you to use words to build His kingdom; that your speech will glorify God; that only the kingdom of this world will be destroyed by your words; that God will help you to control your words; and that no one will have an honest accusation against you because of your words.
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