James 3
March 18, 2022
“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.” (v9-10)
The tongue is an instrument of potential good and unfathomable evil. Our words can build up, bring life, give encouragement and inspire hope. But at the same time, our words can tear down, discourage and catalyze despair. What a double-edged sword - that we wield an instrument that can be used to praise our Creator, and yet can also be used to tear down human beings made in His image.
Lord, I use my tongue right now to praise You! If I didn’t praise You, the rocks would cry out (Luke 19:40)! You made me to praise You - not only because You are good and worthy of praise, but because I find meaning and joy in giving You glory - as this is Your ultimate purpose for my life. Forgive me, though, for the disconnect in how I sometimes use this same instrument when speaking to (or about) those made in Your image. Help me to remember that my whole body belongs to You (1 Cor 6:19-20), including this small (but significant) body part called my tongue. May this day be marked by intentional times of both praising You and blessing others!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
