We have the ability to use our our words to bring life or death. To wound or to heal. If our hearts are tainted with carnal thoughts or feelings, poisonous fruit from our lips will include envy, hypocrisy, lying, malice and strife.

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? ..........

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil. James 3:8-16

Great and Precious Promises

You may ask how can any human tame their tongue-because verse 8 tells us it's impossible. Fiery words coming from corrupt hearts will disrupt, damage and defeat marriages, families, organizations and governments. But with God's help- by His Grace, Spirit and Word- we can overcome the old, carnal nature. Dying out to self is not easy, but it is necessary. Our tongues can bless or curse ourselves and other people in our lives.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. II Peter 1:3-7

The Spirit of God has the power to bridle our tongues when we yield ourselves.(James 1:26) When we seek Jesus-Our High Priest-in humble prayer, he will intercede and give us guidance and strength to obey. (Psalm 141) He is our example of godly speech from a pure heart. Even in the midst of great persecution:

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: I Peter 2:21-23

Jesus was a perfect man. Still, he suffered both physical and verbal abuse. From whom? Firstly, some of his own family and race. Also, the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees. The religious crowd. Romans, generally, were polytheistic, worshipping a variety of gods/idols. What's more, some Emperors were worshipped as gods. In all his suffering from the poison arrows (tongues) of these various groups of people, Jesus did not return evil for evil. We do well-by His grace-to follow his example. (I Peter 2:19,20)

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3:17. 18

God Gives Grace to the Humble

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.

But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Isaiah 57:15-21

Set a Watch Oh Lord..(Psalm 141)

Our Words Matter. Therefore we must guard the gatekeepers...our eyes, ears, lips. And our hearts and minds. Let's offer the sacrifice of praise to God daily. Remember he inhabits the praises of his people.

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matthew 12:35-37

The Power of the Tongue