Tuesday, August 12, 2008
James 3:5-9
So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. (ESV)
by Leota Stevens
God is just relentless on this subject because it is vitally important to the well being of the individual Christian, their home and the entire community. The song so many learned at youth camp said, “ It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up to its glowing.” The principle is the same whether the outcome is for good or for evil. It only takes a few out-of-control, hurtful tidbits of gossip to spew venomous fuel on a fire. However, in this scenario, people aren’t warmed—they are burned by the fire! Words of exhortation, encouragement and faith can light the spark of hope in another’s life that will warm and comfort and stabilize many.
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2008, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service .
