Hung by what Tongue? Mine?
Have you ever said something and then immediately wondered to yourself; "why on earth did I say such a thing? or How could I have said that? or worse yet and most popular is: "I wish I hadn't said that!"
We have all opened our mouth and inserted our foot and in some cases both feet! There aren't any amount of excuses we can find that can justify some of the things we have said during a heated argument, temper tantrum, judging because of injustice in the world, back-biting gossip because of jealousies, tearing down character or just because our pride and ego has taken a backseat to what was expected. Many times we speak before we think, in otherwords we assume. Some open their mouths with boasting to impress, others for sympathy and for some; we hear their lifetime of woes just by listening.
The truth is, we cannot read others hearts. Even if we could, we still aren't to judge them in our own hearts. YES it can be very hard. There is a difference between judging and discerning. Jesus said, "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit." Luke 6:43 We can easily see the handwriting upon the wall through the actions of many, but slandering them only puts the slanderer in a poor position and brings the offender in the limelight.
James said, "When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire and itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." James 3:3-8
Here is one of the things Jesus said about our careless words:
The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 36“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Matthew 12:35-37
Like I said in the beginning, we all have problems with our tongues. I believe this is why we have to keep growing in grace. We are given this gift to expand the center of our hearts, with humility, love and continual forgiveness. When, we say something we should not have said:
1. Be honest right away and admit you shouldn't have said it.
2. Christians do not wait for the other person to say they are sorry. Just get right with the one you offended right away! Apologize and ask forgiveness. It doesn't matter who is right or who is wrong. You are the winner when you get right and repent.
3. You must also forgive. Every time we say something against someone, we are positioning ourselves as judge and jury. Let it go. No ones sin is purer than the other.
4. Do not play the blame game. No one "made you" say those things.
5. Ask God for forgiveness. Do not fret, time to accept His forgiveness and move on.
6. Ask God to put a seal or guard upon your mouth. Ask Him for help. He is faithful to provide a way of escape when we are tempted to open up our mouths.
I realize this was long and I had no idea I was going to pour this out this morning. There is so much more regarding the words we speak.
If you have read this far down; pray with me:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for always giving us your truth. Thank you for caring to correct us and continually guiding us toward your light. Thank you for giving us answers, your answers. Thank you for always speaking to us.
We ask this morning for you to place a guard upon our mouths that we will think before we say anything. We ask that you would help us guard what we place in our hearts, because we know you said that the overflow of the heart comes out of the heart; and that it is a wellspring of life. We ask that what we say would be grace to those who hear us. Season our words with your salt to help, strengthen and encourage others who need that booster of love.
Forgive us for those words we have spoken carelessly. We ask that your Holy Spirit would take control of our tongue and break our habits and that we will replace every wrong thought pattern with your word.
We thank you Father
in Jesus amen
Have you ever said something and then immediately wondered to yourself; "why on earth did I say such a thing? or How could I have said that? or worse yet and most popular is: "I wish I hadn't said that!"
We have all opened our mouth and inserted our foot and in some cases both feet! There aren't any amount of excuses we can find that can justify some of the things we have said during a heated argument, temper tantrum, judging because of injustice in the world, back-biting gossip because of jealousies, tearing down character or just because our pride and ego has taken a backseat to what was expected. Many times we speak before we think, in otherwords we assume. Some open their mouths with boasting to impress, others for sympathy and for some; we hear their lifetime of woes just by listening.
The truth is, we cannot read others hearts. Even if we could, we still aren't to judge them in our own hearts. YES it can be very hard. There is a difference between judging and discerning. Jesus said, "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit." Luke 6:43 We can easily see the handwriting upon the wall through the actions of many, but slandering them only puts the slanderer in a poor position and brings the offender in the limelight.
James said, "When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire and itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." James 3:3-8
Here is one of the things Jesus said about our careless words:
The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 36“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Matthew 12:35-37
Like I said in the beginning, we all have problems with our tongues. I believe this is why we have to keep growing in grace. We are given this gift to expand the center of our hearts, with humility, love and continual forgiveness. When, we say something we should not have said:
1. Be honest right away and admit you shouldn't have said it.
2. Christians do not wait for the other person to say they are sorry. Just get right with the one you offended right away! Apologize and ask forgiveness. It doesn't matter who is right or who is wrong. You are the winner when you get right and repent.
3. You must also forgive. Every time we say something against someone, we are positioning ourselves as judge and jury. Let it go. No ones sin is purer than the other.
4. Do not play the blame game. No one "made you" say those things.
5. Ask God for forgiveness. Do not fret, time to accept His forgiveness and move on.
6. Ask God to put a seal or guard upon your mouth. Ask Him for help. He is faithful to provide a way of escape when we are tempted to open up our mouths.
I realize this was long and I had no idea I was going to pour this out this morning. There is so much more regarding the words we speak.
If you have read this far down; pray with me:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for always giving us your truth. Thank you for caring to correct us and continually guiding us toward your light. Thank you for giving us answers, your answers. Thank you for always speaking to us.
We ask this morning for you to place a guard upon our mouths that we will think before we say anything. We ask that you would help us guard what we place in our hearts, because we know you said that the overflow of the heart comes out of the heart; and that it is a wellspring of life. We ask that what we say would be grace to those who hear us. Season our words with your salt to help, strengthen and encourage others who need that booster of love.
Forgive us for those words we have spoken carelessly. We ask that your Holy Spirit would take control of our tongue and break our habits and that we will replace every wrong thought pattern with your word.
We thank you Father
in Jesus amen
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