JAMES 3

7 Every kind of animal, bird, reptile and fish is tamed or has been tamed by humankind,

8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison.

9 For with the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness.

10 Blessing and cursing coming out of the same mouth, my brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.

11 Does a spring pour out bitter and sweet water from the same opening?

12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt-water spring yield fresh water.

I love fresh tomatoes in the summertime. Imagine how it would be if I had a tomato plant that I cultivate and nurture with the hopes of that fresh, juicy flavor that only a good, ripe tomato can give. A beautiful, red tomato slice on a cheeseburger, or between two slices of toast. Yum!! But imagine my shock if as the plant begins to bear fruit, that fruit is onions!! I hate onions!! (I am aware they grow in different ways. Just stay with me.) The plant was not at all what I expected, and it has produced something I don’t want. I hate onions. Because this is what it produces, I would want it out of my garden and would probably dispose of it.

Think about that.

When we proclaim Jesus as our savior and call ourselves Christians, we need the Great Gardener to cultivate and nurture us so that we will produce good fruits and be pleasing and useful to Him. That being said, make no mistake, we will stumble. That’s why Jesus came to save us from ourselves.

“The tongue can no man tame, but the grace of God can tame it.”[1]

Don’t think that today, as you read this, you are going to control your tongue and speak only goodness and truth. You can’t. Not on your own. It’s untamable by human means.

Chuck Swindoll says, “The tongue displays what you really are. The fruit of our lips finds its source in the root of our soul. Stop all attempts at self-control and surrender to God’s control.”[2]

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[1] Spurgeon

[2] Swindoll, Living Insights Vol. 3