Pr 18:21 ¶ Death and life are in the power of the tongue:… (KJV)
Am I the only one that has ever said a word in haste, only to immediately wish it could be taken back? The tragic thing about words is that once they have been spoken, there’s no undoing them. Words can be used to breathe life back into a weary soul or they can be used to tear down and utterly destroy a person from the inside out. Words.
Remember the old rhyme "sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me"? Oh how well we know that it simply isn’t true. Much to my disgrace, I have been the issuer of stinging blows and much to my sorrow, I have been the receiver of them. Why do we as Christians do this to one another? There truly is life and death in the power of the tongue.
Some lessons are learned the hard way. Job 6:24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. (KJV) We each need to come to the place where we sit at the feet of Jesus and learn. A person can do everything right, be a "good" person, love his neighbors, yet the Bible says that if that man can’t bridle his tongue, his religion is vain (empty, worthless). James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain (KJV). I’ve met a lot of people like this and sadly, at times I’ve played the part as well.
Why should we control our tongue?
Our tongues can be used to:
© Adorning Grace 2009
Remember the old rhyme "sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me"? Oh how well we know that it simply isn’t true. Much to my disgrace, I have been the issuer of stinging blows and much to my sorrow, I have been the receiver of them. Why do we as Christians do this to one another? There truly is life and death in the power of the tongue.
Some lessons are learned the hard way. Job 6:24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. (KJV) We each need to come to the place where we sit at the feet of Jesus and learn. A person can do everything right, be a "good" person, love his neighbors, yet the Bible says that if that man can’t bridle his tongue, his religion is vain (empty, worthless). James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain (KJV). I’ve met a lot of people like this and sadly, at times I’ve played the part as well.
Why should we control our tongue?
- That we not sin (Ps. 39:1)
- That we stay out of mischief (harm, injury) (Pr. 17:20)
- That we stay out of trouble (Pr. 21:23)
- That your body be not defiled (James 3:6)
Our tongues can be used to:
- Confess Jesus and call on Him for salvation (Rom. 10:9)
- Bring glory to the Lord (Ps. 71:24)
- Worship God (Ps 126:2)
- Tell others about God’s saving grace (Mark 16:15)
© Adorning Grace 2009
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