Watch your mouth!

Today's reading: James 3

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.
James 3: 10 NRSV

Watch your mouth!

Do you find yourself complimenting a friend or family member one moment but within the next hour screaming at your kids? Or do you say, "God bless you!" when someone sneezes yet find yourself cussing like a sailor when you injure yourself?

James says that we cannot use our mouths for both. Either we will be blessing or cursing. And James seems to indicate that we most likely will be doing the latter.

This is because we do not keep our tongues in check. It is like walking a dog. If you walk a dog and let the dog lead then the dog is walking you. This means you will stop when the dog wants to stop, go when the dog is pulling you down the street, and head into the direction that you most likely do not want to go.

It is much more pleasing to lead the dog and have the dog walk by your side. Not only do you feel good about the walk, but you have probably made all your neighbors feel pretty good as well.

Let's learn to curb our tongues!

God, you have created our tongues to speak and you want us to speak your word and your blessing. But, Lord, so often we use our tongues for malice or hurt or cursing. Forgive us and help us to curb our tongues. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims