S) "8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way."
James 3:8-10 (NASB)
O) James started with the observation that anyone who is perfect in word will also be perfect in action (v.2). However, as he goes on describing the world of trouble that words bring, he ends with this dire warning. No one can do what he described in the opening paragraph. In a different way, he is sort of describing the same struggle that Paul described in Romans 7:14-20. In both of these passages, we see a tension between doing right and doing wrong. In the case above, James is describing worship and praise of our Lord and Father (good) and cursing men who are made in His likeness (bad). Two verses later (v.12), James reminds us why this is. There is a reason that our words and our actions are so closely tied. He uses an analogy of a fig tree producing olives, or a vine producing figs. This is very close to the analogy that Jesus used, when He said that a good tree produces good fruit, and He was describing that our words are the overflow of our hearts (Luke 6:43-45).
A) There will be only limited victory in my words, just as with my actions, if my heart is not set on Jesus Christ, alone. Just as with any struggle against a tempting behavior, a white-knuckle approach to controlling my tongue will only leave me exhausted and then defeated. Thankfully, my defeats are not my death, and in Jesus I have victory and strength to get back on my feet. I don't want to be careless with my words, but I also don't want to have to take a vow of silence in order to not say poisonous things. On the contrary, I want to speak words of life, of healing, of encouragement, and peace. This is not done through anything of my own, but only as my heart is set fully on Christ, having my heart submitted to His kingship. There is a throne room in my heart, and if the Spirit of Christ fills it, then I will bear good fruit in both my words and my actions. What I absolutely cannot do, is try to make amends for my mistakes, my failures, by trying to impress God. If I am trying to worship Him with one hand, and worship myself (or anything else) with the other, then I am actually making a profane mockery of my Lord. If I am trying to bless God and curse men with the same breath, which God alone gives, then I am not making atonement, but blaspheming His name. There is always a place for repentance and confession, and apologizing for wrongs. Doing that is inviting the grace of the gospel to be fresh in my life. Doing that is tearing down whatever false god I have erected in my heart, and inviting Jesus alone to be enthroned there.
P) Father, You are holy and worthy of truth worship. Please forgive me for my double-talk. Forgive me for my silence. Help me, Father, to clean out the temple of my heart, that there would be no idolatry there. Create in me a clean heart. I am a man of unclean lips. Purify me, by the atoning blood of Jesus, and wash me clean. Let my words and my actions reflect a clean and submissive heart. I want to bring honor to Your name, Lord. I know that I cannot tame my tongue. If I could, I would be able to tame all the members of my body, but sin persists in my life. Yet, I know that in You I have victory. You are more than able, Lord, to give me victory in my words and deeds. When I do suffer defeat, let me fix my eyes on Jesus, to get back on my feet to fight again. Strengthen my heart within me, Lord. All to Your glory. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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