APRIL 13

James 3:6

WORDS CAN HURT

What are the strong words used by James to describe the tongue?
 Answer: _______________________________________________
         
 The tongue is like fire. Have you seen or been in a fire? Fires are scary, aren’t they?They can destroy houses, forests, animals and humans. In an explosion, a fire breaks out. Anyone near the fire could be burnt or killed. Like fire that destroys, the tongue destroys – our words can kill a person’s reputation or destroy a person’s friendships.

The tongue also ‘defileth’, or corrupts. Have you seen a rotten fruit mouldy bread? Rotten food must be binned.

When describing the tongue as a fire, James is talking about the words that come out of the mouth. We hurt others by criticising them without love and tearing them down. We also use foul language and tell lies. We make people angry and sad. e awful thing is, we can never take our words back. We are left sometimes with regret for what we said.

Peter has this exhortation for us ( ll in the blanks):
 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him __________ his __________ from __________, and his lips that speak no __________. (1 Peter 3:10) If you do not guard your words, the psalmist has this to say to you, take heed ( ll in the blanks): He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life, but he that __________ wide his lips shall have__________.          (Proverbs 13:3)

Thought: What unkind words have others said to you? And what unkind words have you said to others?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, sometimes I say things that hurt others. Please forgive me. Help me to think before speaking. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.