The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. – Isaiah 50:4
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. – Colossians 4:6
4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! – James 3:4-5
God has given us a powerful tool which is the tongue. We can choose to submit it to him, and allow him to teach us daily the right things to say. He can show us how to encourage others, if we are willing to listen and learn from him, like students. We can use our words graciously, even when we disagree with others, even when we have to defend our actions or our faith.
On the other hand, we can allow the tongue to be a destructive tool, a fire, spreading harmful words, wreaking havoc and leaving a trail of ashes in its wake. Think about the big forest fires, some of which have happened in recent years in Australia, and in Canada. They may have started with a spark, or a small fire initially.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind,
8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. – James 3:7-8
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. – Matthew 15:18
A heart surgery- that’s what we need. The way to control the tongue is to let God work on the heart. When we submit our hearts, and in turn our words and actions to God, then our words and actions will reflect his love. If we let God teach (and tame) our tongue, and if, every morning, we listen for his instructions, we will become his instruments for good.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. – Proverbs 25:11
unfetteredconviction 