Devo James 3

James 3:1-12
1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know
that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If
anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole
body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey
us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 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. 5 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. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It
corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set
on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are
being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It
is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and
Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out
of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11
Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers,
can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce
fresh water.

Meditation:
1. If I were to record everything I said last week to have it played back during
church, what would I want to erase from the recording?
2. Meditate on 3:9-10. Have I been doing more praising or cursing? What are
ways that I can praise and encourage others more?
3. Is there a family member, a friend or colleague, to whom I may say some
encouraging words?

Personal Note:
Many of life's heartache comes from saying the wrong things to hurt the people we love.  We learn from the passage that it is impossible to control our tongue by our strength alone.  God's purpose for our tongue is to praise God and encourage one another.  Let's pray that God will help us to speak words of kindness and grace.  Let's pray for one particular person with whom you find it difficult to speak with love. As we pray for others, even ones whom we feel like we can’t love, God transforms our hearts to love them like He
does.