Tongue control is not easy. We open our mouths and things fall out that we cannot take back. How many times have we spoken to soon? Do we listen to hear or do we listen to respond. It is a real human struggle.
James is a short little book in the Bible, but it is packed full of challenges. It is only five chapters long, but it packs a punch. It follows Hebrews, and was intended for Jewish believers. It is challenging, but there is a warmth to it, too.
"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." -James 1:19
Quick to anger and carelessly flung words rarely made any situation better. I once heard someone say, "The Spirit of Corrective-ness" is not a fruit of the spirit. Listen for understanding. Listen for clarity. Lasso the tongue. Let the Lord lead when hard discussions are necessary. All of these things are easier said than done.
As the Jewish believers walking in the light of the Messiah's life, death, and resurrection. They were full of knowledge, raised with and in the scriptures, but they... like us today... still had much to learn.
When in doubt... don't let it out.
Today, I am grateful for tongue control.
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