Posted in Faith Builders
JESUS IS COMING SOON! MARANATHA LORD!
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1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. (James 3:1-6, New King James Version)
"If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body." The word translated "perfect" in this verse can also mean "mature", and I believe that is the meaning James had in mind. I believe that James made this statement to illustrate just how important, and how difficult it is to control one's own words. In fact, having full command over one's own words is such a difficult thing to achieve, requiting so much maturity, self discipline, and self control, that it can be assumed that one who has succeeded in mastering his own words will also have enough maturity and self control to bridle every other area of life. Indeed, if one will just ruthlessly tackle this one area, the other areas of temptation will seem easy to handle by comparison.
"Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell."
These verses indicate that our words have some power to steer our actions and our hearts. I know I have sen this happen in my own life before. When someone does something that irritates me just a little, if I take it God and forgive them, it is over with. It passes and doesn't bother me anymore. However, if I allow myself to start complaining, I find myself becoming more and more angry. My heart is turned in the direction of bitterness, and soon that tiny spark of anger becomes a great forest fire.
By contrast, I also have literally talked myself out of anger before. There have been times when I became angry by either a real or perceived wrong against me, and I've talked myself down, saying things like, "Well I know he shouldn't have done that, but lately he has had so much garbage in his life stressing him out. I guess its understandable." My heart then is steered toward empathy, and forgiveness happens almost on its own as I see things from the other person's perspective.
So our words do have the power to influence our hearts and steer out actions, but what is it that steers our words? The bit turns the horse, but the rider is the one who pulls the rein attached to the bit. The tiny rudder turns the great ship, but the helmsman steers that rudder. Who is at the helm of my life? Is it the "old man" as Paul called the old sinful nature, or is it the Holy Spirit of God?
LORD, I pray that you will be at the helm of my life, of my words, of my every moment and every choice. I know that often, I do not let You take the helm as You have the right to, but I am asking today Lord that you be both my captain and my helmsman. Take control Lord, I let go and give it you.
