Tame the Tongue (James 3:5)

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! (James 3:5, ESV)

“Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me” has got to be one of the biggest lies of all time. Words can do grave damage, and James knew it, so the Spirit worked his artistry through James by driving him to compare the power of the tongue to a small fire.

Even the tiniest ember has the power to decimate a massive forest. Given the right conditions, our words can wreak havoc if we aren’t careful. Oh, how we need the Spirit to tame our speech!

And it seems that current conditions are perfect for the tongue to spread damage like an out-of-control wildfire. Just as a spark is more dangerous in the summertime, our words will find seasons with more potential to bring harm. I think we are in such a time. Conditions are dry. People are on edge. And the internet is at hand. With our words, we can be the peacemakers Christ sought or the flamethrowers the enemy wants.

Only our Lord can help us get mastery over our mouths. Only his Spirit can purify the source. Only God can make our words less like a raging inferno and more like a life-giving stream.

Let it be, O Lord.