James 3

What a tough chapter James 3 is for most of us because it deals with one of the most “undisciplined” parts of our bodies and according to James one of the most important parts of our body, the tongue.  James, the Apostle Paul and Jesus Himself all agree that we must watch what comes out of our months.  James tells us that it directs where we go in life (3:4), can cause great destruction (3:5) and reveals exactly who we are (3:9-12).

I wander if you ever let a word or joke or outburst “slip” from your mouth and later asked yourself, “Where did that come from?”  I mean that was so uncharacteristic of me, I don’t usually talk that way, where did that come from?  Well Jesus actually has the answer to that, He would say that it came from the heart (Matthew 15:18).  What is the answer then to making sure that the words that come out of our mouth are pleasing to God?  I believe that Solomon said it pretty well in Prov. 4:23, “Above all else guard your heart, for from it come the issues of life.”

How is your heart doing now days?  Do you allow anger, jeolousy, hatred, or other harmful emotions to attach to your heart?  Confess that to God and get rid of it and let God work in and deal with your heart.  David in Psalms 51 said “Create in me a clean heart God and renew a right spirit within me…(vs.17) the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and contrite heart O God you will not despise.”  May we always seek to honor Him with our words, but we will never fully be able to do that until we have a heart that is completely submitted to Him.