Taming the Tongue

1 Not many of you should become 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 control his whole body. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of the horses to make them obey us; we can guide the whole animal. 4 Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by high winds, they are steered by a slight rudder wherever the pilot is inclined. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest on fire. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the 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 an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  9 With the tongue, we bless 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 blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! 11Can both fresh water and bitter water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

We are teaching and preaching on social media daily about how we love the Lord, and with the same tongue;  an hour later cursing our brothers and sisters out.  We cannot use the same mouth to praise the Lord then allow wickedness and evil to flow from our mouth.  We cannot tame our tongues on our own, but with God strength and the Holy Spirit, it's durable.

Father, help us tame our tongues; it is the smallest organ in our body, but the most powerful.  Lord, let us think and pray before we speak, so we do not dishonor You with our mouth.  Father, forgive us for praising You and cursing our brothers and sister with the same tongue.  Father, teach us that we do not have to be loud to be heard, or vulgar with our mouth to be seen.  Lord, teach us that blessings will not flow from the same mouth, as evil and wicked language comes.  Father, let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable in Your sight; and let us use our tongue to speak life and not death, in Jesus name Amen

Ron Watson, Ybor Art Colony May 30-June 4, Tampa, Fl