James. A 21-day reading plan by Doxa Deo.Sample

 James 3:1-8  (ESV)  Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 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. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

The fruit in your life is the result of what has been planted in your life. The words on your tongue is fruit of the things that dwell in your heart. Matt. 12:35b (ESV) “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

The Tongue is compared to a bit in a horse’s mouth, a rudder in a large ship, a small fire that sets a forest ablaze. These small objects need to be controlled as we need to control our tongues.

Our tongues can only be brought into alignment when we have settled what we believe to be true about God and about ourselves. 

Reflection:

What do your words say about what you believe to be true about God?