October 9th, 2026
Scripture – “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?”
James 3:5-11 NIV
Observation – James is telling us something that we all know. Our tongue hurts other people deeply and causes us a lot of problems because we can’t control it. We boast, gossip, tear others down, make gross sexual jokes, handle conflict with sarcasm and then we give praise to God one moment and curse our fellow human beings the next moment. James says, this should not be, can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same stream.
Application – In Luke 6:43-45 Jesus says, ““No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” I remember, 50 years ago, my grandma telling me, “If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all.” We think if we could just follow my Grandma’s advice we’d be in great shape but we can’t do it because what we say is simply the natural consequence or byproduct of what is in our hearts. We fill our minds with songs, movies, tv shows, videos about sex, violence, alcohol and horrible language so we have a bunch of wacky thoughts floating around in our heads. Then we say crazy things and wonder how that came out of our mouths. What else could possibly come out of your mouth? You reap what you sow. If you would like to become a better human being, you need to first confess your sins and ask Jesus to forgive you and then…“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 NIV
Prayer – Lord Jesus, I pray for all us that have evil thoughts that result in evil speech that you would forgive us and we would set our minds on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable and whatever is excellent or praiseworthy.
