James 3:9-12

Passage

In our tongue we all bless the Lord and Father; in it we all curse human beings, who are made in the likeness of God.  Out of the same mouth comes a blessing and a curse.  It ought not be, my brothers and sisters, for these things to be happening.  Does a spring pour out of the same opening fresh and bitter water?  My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs?  Neither can salty water make fresh water. 

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

James gives us another blunt challenge.  Realize that it is with the same tongue that we both praise God and curse our neighbors.  I think this once more points us back to the importance of listening.  If I am focused on keeping my mouth closed to everything that doesn’t come from God, then the curses won’t come out.  Granted, they may still appear in my brain – but at least they won’t come out!  So the less I speak about my thoughts and focus on speaking only the thoughts of God, the less guilty I will be of using my tongue for both good and ill purpose!  Listening not only makes us a better instrument in the hand of God, it also makes us guilty of fewer sinful behaviors!

Why do we say foolish things so rashly?  Why does it seem that so many people have problems with filtering what thoughts they should make public and what thoughts should remain inside their head and disappear?  Why do we have such difficulty being convicted by the fact that when I speak harshly about someone else I’m using the same organ of the body that I use to praise God?  Why is this conviction important to realize?

Second Thought:

James also makes a very subtle point as he speaks of others.  God has made us in His own image.  When we insult others, we are inherently insulting the image of God.  When we look upon others and fail to see beauty, we are failing to see God’s beauty.  This is why it is important for us as people to truly learn what it means to love the sinner, but hate the sin.  In order to truly love God, I must love people – for they are made in the image of God.  I need not love the sinful corruption they bring to life, but I must love them.

Does this thought convict you?  In whom do you have a difficult time seeing God’s image?  Why might God be bringing that person (or those people) to your mind today?

Third Thought:

James also gets us to think about the nature of things.  Salty water cannot produce fresh water, nor can it produce effects within us that fresh water can produce.  A fig tree cannot bear anything except figs.  Therefore, the Spirit of God within us cannot produce anything that is not pleasing to God.  Every time we sin, it is evidence of the war within.  Every time we give harbor to an evil thought it is evidence of the war within.  Every time an evil thought produces evil words – or, for that matter, evil action – it is proof of the war within.  It is a war that shall be fought every minute of every day of your life.  It will be that way because there is a war over your very nature being fought deep within you.  God is at war with Satan.  God is at war with the world.  The battlefield is your body and your spirit.  The dual nature of our tongue is the greatest evidence of the war within us that we could ever seek to find.

Which nature do you favor – the world’s or the Lord’s?  Which nature do you make easier to dwell within you?  Why do you make this claim?

Passage for Tomorrow: James 3:13-15