Tongue Tamer

Daily Reading: James 3-4

Scripture Focus: No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3.8)

Devotional Thought: Is there enough 'noise' in the world to suit you? And, with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, there will no shortage of words in the foreseeable future. People have a lot to say: "No human being can tame the tongue!" The real problem, however, is not the amount of the 'noise.' It is the evil character of what is being said. It doesn't take long, listening to the news, to discover that people struggle to say good things about people they don't agree with.

Why is that? The tongue is...

• A restless evil (v. 8): These two words are very strong in the original language. "Restless" means unstable to the point of anarchy. There is nothing able to restrain it. "Evil" is malice flowing out of a morally rotten character.

• Full of deadly poison (v. 8): This phrase indicates that words are like the venom of adders and can bring about spiritual as well as physical death.
  

Is there hope in this 'noisy' world? Yes! Jesus said that the words we speak reveal the character that is within us: "You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12.34). When the heart is overflowing with the love of God, then the words we speak will be full of love.

While no man can tame the tongue, God certainly can! The question is, "Will we let him?"

Prayer: Lord, please sanctify my tongue. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 45.1-7

1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. 3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty!

4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! 5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you.

6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;