The Power of the Tongue | Bob Wriedt | James 3:1-5a
When is the last time you said something foolish? If your answer is further back than "An hour ago," you're a better person than me.
This week at Grace, we're looking at James 3:1-5. I like how The Message paraphrases verse 2: "We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life."
While we are quick to admit that we have said things we wish we could take back, I wonder how much we think it matters. We all recognize how powerful the words of others are. Our parents' words shaped our world when we were young. The words of friends and peers stick with us for years. And the words of Jesus are the most powerful of all. So why do we discount the power of our own words?
We tell ourselves that we're "just joking" or "telling it like it is," and in the process let our tongue run rampant over others and ourselves. Let's reflect on how to tame our tongues as Christians together this Sunday.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
👉 Want to get more involved? Explore some of the ways you can connect with our community here: https://linktr.ee/gracesealbeach
James 3: 1-5a
Taming the Tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 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. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 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. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.