Daily Bible Study

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Day 166 James 3:1 My brethren, let few of you become teachers, knowing we will 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 driven by fierce winds, the pilot turns them by a small rudder wherever he desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. Set among our members, it defiles the whole body and sets the course of nature on fire; it is set on fire by hell. 7 Mankind has tamed every kind of beast, bird, reptile, and creature of the sea. 8 No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus, no spring yields both salt water and fresh. How often do people say things they regret? Once said, you cannot unsay what you said. You can tame everything in life except the tongue. James told the people they were to pay attention to what they said because the tongue could cause trouble where least expected. Just as fire burns down large forests, so the tongue can burn relationships. It causes a world of hurt. He told the people they could tame everything in life except the tongue. In one moment, a person both blesses God and curses people. He told them nothing good comes from an unruly tongue. Have you noticed Christians will do what non-Christians won’t? You expect people to act selfish and mean, to say things that should be left unsaid. However, Christians who should know better condemn fellow Christians and drive them away from the body of Christ. James faced the same situation among believers. He knew how unruly the tongue could be and told the people to guard their tongues. David spoke a lot about the tongue. He knew how wicked it could be. Psalm 39:1 (To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.) I said, “I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.” Ps 141:1 (A Psalm of David.) LORD, I cry out to You; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. 2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies. Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my Redeemer. David’s prayer and James’s admonishment should be your prayer and admonishment. They both knew the dangers of the tongue. Take heart to guard your tongue so it doesn’t hurt anyone. Think before you speak so you will only bless people and not bring a curse upon them or yourself. Let’s pray: Father, set a guard on my mouth to keep my tongue from saying anything that will condemn me and turn people away from You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 29 December 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.