“On a windswept hill in an English country churchyard stands a drab,
gray slate tombstone. The quaint stone
bears an epitaph not easily seen unless you stoop over and look closely. The faint etchings read:
“Beneath this stone, a lump of clay, / lies Arabella Young, / who on the
twenty-fourth of May, / began to hold her tongue.” (Source Unknown)
It doesn’t
take much for us to realize that our tongue can get us in trouble. In fact, all we usually have to do is open
our mouths and let the inconsistencies and harm ensue. This isn’t to say that everything we say is
harmful or hurtful, but according to James, the tongue doesn’t just have the
potential to do great harm, it will do great harm. Something so small corrupts the entire body
and reveals to us our heart.
James tells
us that no one can control their tongue.
So, what hope is there for us? If
our tongue is evil (James 3:8) and with it our own evil heart is revealed, how
can we find any encouragement in this passage?
We will find it only a few verses later in James 4:6-10.
Join us on
Sunday morning at First Baptist in Emery as we strive to find joy in God’s
glory through the exploring of His Word, the conviction of our hearts, and the
encouragement of His Truth.
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