And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. James 3:6 KJV
The way we present things can be received differently by those around us.
Especially the words we speak.
They can set an atmosphere that can be positive or negative.
They have an impact on the lives of those who hear them.
Once they are spoken, they can’t be taken back.
We can try to correct ourselves, but the words we previously spoke may continue to linger in the minds of the listener.
The words we speak should be words of comfort or offer help to one another.
They should be words spoken in a way that reveals truth and is easily received by those listening.
James gives us a description of what our words demonstrate when we speak.
He said, “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell” (James 3:6).
Simply put, “It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell” (James 3:6 The Message).
There is power in the words we speak.
When we know we have spoken in a manner unbecoming, it is good to know we can ask for forgiveness from that person(s) and God (Matthew 5:23-24, 1 John 1:9 KJV).
From that point, going forward, we need to rest daily in the Word.
Praying that the Father will “Let [our] speech be [always] with grace, seasoned with salt, that [we] may know how [we] ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6).
Changing the way, we think and speak.
To get in the habit of thinking about how our words will make others feel before we respond. They do have an impact.
Let us aim to be consistent in our words and actions.
They give hope and encourage others around us.
But most of all, they bring honor to God.
A WORD OF PRAYER
Father, help us to think before we speak. We know that the words we speak are like fire. When used incorrectly they burn and corrupt everything around us. We don’t want our words to become weapons that destroy our relationship with You and others. Help us to control our tongues and choose the right words to say. Speaking only words that please You and give hope and encouragement to others. Thank You for guarding our hearts and giving us the right words to speak today.
In Jesus Name We Pray, Amen