"Call to me and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. " Jeremiah 33:3

Saturday, October 1, 2011

"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. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things." James 3:4-5

If the rudder of a ship is broken it cannot stay on course.
If our tongues are broken because of lying, gossip, grumbling, complaining, and filthy language we cannot stay on course with God. The Holy Spirit will never lead where our broken tongues will take us and the Holy Spirit never follows.

If the rudder of a ship is broken it endangers its passengers and every other ship in its path.
If our tongues are broken we endanger everyone within the sound of our voice. From precious little ears, to the people that we work with who have heard our claim to be a Christian. No one is safe from a broken tongue; it slices like a knife, grieves the Holy Spirit of God and dirties everyone who hears our words, most of all ourselves. Whoever said sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt you, is a liar! Words go down deep within us. If you don't believe it why are so many teens committing suicide because of bullying?

If the rudder of a ship is bent there is a constant tension and struggle just to steer the ship.
If our tongues are bent it is because we are allowing lies and truth both to be part of our conversation; we claim we believe Gods Word, we even quote it, yet when faced with a crisis, all too often our words show; fear, doubt, confusion, anger, self-pity and anxiety. Our words reveal that we are what is called in the Bible a double-minded man unstable in all our ways. When our lives and our words are in agreement with Gods word we are confident, our steps are sure and our conversation builds others up.

The Bible has much to say regarding our tongues; Proverbs 18:2,4,7-8,21
"A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."
"The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook."
"A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul."
"The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body."
"Death and Life are in the power of the tongue."

Jesus said; "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34
What is in your heart? Listen to your words, they reveal your heart. If you are not satisfied with what you hear then use your mouth to confess your sin to God and He will forgive and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Then yield your tongue to the power of the Holy Spirit, use it to bring life, believe it or not He can tell you "don't say that" before one word ever leaves your mouth! We really do desire to be vessels fit for noble use, it begins with our tongues.

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