James 3:1-12

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Day 18
Read:

  • Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (v1)
  •  Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. (v4-5)
  • How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. (v5b)
  • but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (v8)
  • Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. (v11-12)
Reflect
  • If we teach others, we should not be false teachers as "we will be judged with greater strictness"
    • We should take responsibility and be mindful when we are teaching others
  • The tongue is a powerful tool that can do many great things but equally can also do much damage
  • The tongue can cause a small fire which within a forest may cause a large fire - symbolic of how our words can may seem insignificant but actually can do much harm in the longer term
  • We cannot tame the tongue by ourselves - we need the saving power and grace of God
  • Our tongue is one of the signs of whether we are bearing fruit and those who do not mind their tongue will find it very difficult to be effective and productive in gospel ministry
Application:
  • Be mindful when speaking to others - my words matter!
  • When teaching others I should be diligent and very mindful of the responsibility and opportunity God has given me

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