There it happened again! A slip of the tongue, something said that cannot be taken back. Have you ever been there? Perhaps this is you even now, but we cannot say we were not warned. We know that the old saying, “sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is another lie to get us to say things we regret later. James tells it this way: “If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, then his religion is useless and he deceives himself. Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James 1:26-27 Sometimes it’s so subtle that you do not think you are saying anything wrong, but what you have said, is indeed offensive to another. The world is having a field day with this. It seems like everything said now is offensive to someone, and they are quick to point that out, calling you every kind of name imaginable because of it. Does that mean that we just cannot speak any more? Like that’s going to do a lot of good. But how does one keep from saying things, that as soon as they leave the lips, are remorseful of speaking them to begin with? James goes on to say: “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment, for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body. Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things.” James 3:1-5 So I realize that I want and I desire to be a mature man, yet it seems like it is my mouth that keeps getting me into trouble, and I realize that I have to control this loose cannon. How many of us have struggled with this same thing. It seems to come from a period of stressfulness, or anger, or another emotion that seeks to control our actions or thoughts. It’s only when we keep our thoughts on Jesus, especially during those times that we are bombarded by outside influences of a worldly and fleshly nature. I take responsibility for that, as I hope you do also. We will never get to the point of maturity unless we can bridle this freely moving instrument of torture and pain. (Taken from a devotional by Pastor Andy)
Barnabas Man 