Inspiration & Worship
Taming Our Tongues T
hroughout the Bible we’re told to control our thoughts and control our tongues. Reckless words cut like a knife and can’t be taken back. They can fracture friendships, divide citizens, spark wars, ruin marriages, shrivel a child’s spirit and offend God. As we endure much world stress and uncertainty, it’s a good time to practice self discipline. Being “right” is seldom more important than being kind. Expressing a contrary opinion is one thing, but demonizing people is unacceptable, says scripture. Each of us is made in God’s image, after all. Self-control is a very basic qualification of being a good leader, says Timothy. It takes practice. No one reaches spiritual maturity without it. In I Corinthians, Paul compares spiritual self-discipline to the training needed to win an athletic competition: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (I Cor. 9:25 NIV) When we don’t control our thoughts and mouths, we sin against one another and therefore against God. From James 3:3-9 (NIV): “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 body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell ... “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” Here's to taming our tongues! ❚ – Janine Pumilia
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June 2022 • I
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