James 3:18

NLT: And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness

The Message: You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honour.

It’s often easier to reply to something someone has said with the first thing that comes out of your head. After all, if someone is always running you down, trying to make you feel bad, why not retaliate in kind? And what about family, close friends? How about when they have an off day and let you know in no uncertain terms just how they are feeling? Why shouldn't you give them a piece of your mind? It’s not as if you don't have feelings, don't care, or have problems of your own to worry about. Why do they always have to take it out on you? So why not let fly and tell them exactly what you think?

The reason that we shouldn't do this is right here in James 3:18. Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

It's not always easy, biting your tongue to keep yourself from retaliating in kind to unkind, insensitive, hurtful remarks. But that us what we are to do, and doesn't it tell us in Proverbs:

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1, NLT

If you retaliate in kind, answer back with your own harsh words, criticism, or insults, then the chances are, sparks will fly and there will be a huge argument. Yet if you answer quietly, gently, without anger or malice, then the opposite can happen, and the tension in the atmosphere will dissipate.

It’s not only individuals who benefit from these words of James either. Take a look at some of the disagreements that take place worldwide as nations seek to protect their territories, to develop the weapons that will deter others from attacking them, or perhaps be used to attack others and so expand a nation's borders, or get rid of a much hated neighbouring country.

The difficulty lies in saying the right words that will turn away anger without looking like you are a carpet for all and sundry to walk on. I think the solution to that lies in having a close relationship with God, of being, like David, a man (or woman) after God's own heart. And that means spending time with God. Not just reading your bible, looking at the "thought for the day" in your monthly bible reading booklet, or singing along to the hymns/songs on a Sunday morning. It means really engaging with God, spending time just soaking in his presence, listening for His voice and just being aware all the time of His presence at your side.

The trouble is, though, at least in my case, is that life gets in the way. I sit here at my computer first thing in the morning filled with so many good intentions. Then I just quickly decide to check my emails. Half an hour later, I open up my bible but then realise that I need to just upload those photos that I promised someone a while ago. Then I just check on a couple of blogs before reading my bible, and end up following links to all sorts of different sites to learn more about digital photography, scrapbooking, or whatever. An hour or more from when I sat down, I finally end up reading my bible and start to journal, but then my youngest walks in to see what is going on, or I have to go make breakfast and packed lunches, and before I know it, it is time to get ready for work and the day ahead. Where did the time go? And exactly how much of it was wasted whilst I did other things rather than spend time with God?

The devil is always trying to draw us away from God, to get us to set our sights on the things of this world, rather than the things from God. It takes time and energy to refuse to listen, to get up extra early, to force yourself to spend time with God without all the distractions that are continually around us. But don't you think that the time spend with God is worth it?

Because if we spent more time with God, if we soaked in His presence, listened for His voice all the time, then surely we can only gain? And then giving the gentle answer that turns away wrath, becoming a peacemaker, someone who looks to reconcile rather than rebuff, will become second nature as we naturally do what god would have us do in any given situation, rather than what the devil tries to get us to do.

James 3:17

NIV: But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

The Message: Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced.

The wisdom that comes from heaven, from God, is:

1. Pure

The dictionary definition of pure is:

• adjective 1 not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material. 2 free of impurities. 3 innocent or morally good. 4 complete; nothing but: a shout of pure anger. 5 theoretical rather than practical: pure mathematics. 6 (of a sound) perfectly in tune and with a clear tone.

I love the way it says here that a pure sound is perfectly in tune and has a clear tone. Just imagine being so pure that it is as if you had just been washed clean by God, had all the impurities (the sin) removed and taken away, never to return, and were dressed in white robes of righteousness. You would be like a crystal clear bell, ringing out with such a pure sweet note, it would just make you want to cry!

That is the type of wisdom that James is talking about. The wisdom that is so pure, so sweet, so completely free of impurities, unaffected by preconceived ideas, bigotry, favouritism, a clear tone that is as if whatever you say is as pure and sweet and holy as if it had come straight from the mouth of God.

I don't know about you, but I know that there is no way anything I say is like that. You pick up so many ideas, idiosyncrasies, habits and so on in a lifetime, that what you are as a person comes out in the way you say things - the mannerisms, the language, your core beliefs. Yet can God change each one of us, make us more like Christ, make us pure within, so what we are is pure without also (does that make sense?).

2. Peace- loving

So what does the dictionary have to say about peace:

noun 1 freedom from disturbance; tranquillity. 2 freedom from or the ending of war. 3 (the peace) Christian Church an action such as a handshake, signifying unity, performed during the Eucharist.

Tranquillity. Even the word conjures up, for me, pictures of bright sunny days, water trickling in a stream, the sunlight reflecting through the leaves onto the water. So we are to love peace, and who wouldn't prefer peace to war, to fighting, arguing, backbiting? I know in our house, it is so much more peaceful and quiet when everyone gets on, when the children don't fight or throw a paddy, stomping up the stairs and slamming the doors behind them as they go.

But this is not just peace in a house, in a family, or a marriage, this is peace in a country, in the world, with no wars, no fighting, and also peace of mind, peace of heart, and that type of peace can only come from knowing God.

3. Considerate

adjective careful not to harm or inconvenience others

This is having a care for others, watching what you say and do so as not to hurt or harm others. It means taking into account their feelings, what they are going through. Sometimes, this isn't easy to do, you have a busy day at work, you get stressed out because there are deadlines to be met, jobs to do and so little time. Things go wrong, the internet won't work in my case - and this is soooo frustrating! I never realised just how much it was part of my life until we have connection problems these past two weeks…. You have worries, problems, cares and concerns and it is often easier to take out your stress and frustration on others than to keep it all bottled up inside and "be nice". Sometimes, you just don't want to play!

But the consideration that comes from God means having to put yourself last, consider others, how they are doing, watching out for them, helping them out. It does not, however, mean that you run yourself ragged doing everything for everyone else and never talking a moment for yourself.

4. Submissive

adjective meekly obedient or passive.

Being submissive does not mean becoming a doormat, agreeing with everyone, dong what everyone wants and expects, standing there and taking it, lying down and letting everyone walk all over you. As women, we are supposed, for instance, to be submissive to our husbands, but that does not mean standing there and letting him batter us about. I'm not a battered wife, by the way, but I know women who are, and they have just been so worn down by their husbands that they don't even want to leave the marriage because they think they are not worth anything better, or they don't know where to go, whom to turn to.

Submissive here means standing up for what is right, what is good, what is true, but it doesn't mean that you become a carpet and allow others to walk all over you.

5. Full of mercy and good fruit

noun lenience or forgiveness towards an enemy etc; pity.

Being full of mercy, to me, means that you look kindly on people, you give them a second chance and don't automatically assume that they actually mean the words they are saying. Sometimes, people say something without thinking about how it will sound and it comes out all wrong, effectively insulting or belittling the person they are talking to. Other times, they can do something and it really hurts the other person, a thoughtless action can cause all sorts of arguments.

Then good fruit. Well, this, to me, means the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, forgiveness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Just imagine what sort of a place the world would be if we were all filled with the fruits of the Spirit?

6. Impartial

adjective not favouring one side over another; unbiased.

This is a case of not taking sides, of being uninfluenced by either side in an argument and sticking to what is true and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8, NLT).

This is not always easy. I can think of numerous times when our youngest son has complained that his sister has done this to him, or an elder brother has done that to him, only for us to find out when we go to confront the errant sibling that they had been provoked unceasingly and only retaliated as a last resort to stop their brother hitting them (or whatever he was doing). I have certainly learned from that not to take at face value everything he says, and to check out exactly what was happening, what was said, and so on.

7. Sincere

adjective 1 honest in word and deed, meaning what you say or do, true; a sincere friend 2 truly felt: a sincere desire

To mean what you say or do. In other words, don't be two faced, don't say one thing, and mean another, or say you will do one thing but then go and do something completely different. To be honest in word and deed, to let your faith, the things you really believe in, be shown through the way you live your life. Don't be a person who says one thing (e.g. someone who always appears "holier than thou", never putting a foot wrong in front of other people, and yet at home, behind closed doors, is an adulterer, a liar, a cheat or whatever. Our words and deeds should reflect Jesus at work in our lives.

I've just had a quick read through all of the above, and it is clear that James used very few words to describe wisdom but meant an awful lot more than he was actually saying. But when you break it all down, isn't this the behaviour that Jesus expects of us? If we are to demonstrate the love of Christ, the love of God to all men, then surely we need to exercise wisdom, to be peace loving, sincere, impartial, full of mercy and good fruit, submissive and considerate?

It does not mean that we become doormats, allowing others to just take us for granted, walk all over us, but that we stand up for what is right, what is good, what is true, what is noble and we fight injustice, wrongdoing, bigotry, and so on. We don't allow public opinion or political correctness to stand in the way of saying something is wrong, or prevent us from standing up for the underdog, the poor, the defenceless, those who cannot speak up for themselves.

Maybe if the church was to do more of this, instead of seeking to give offence to no man, of trying to fit in with the world, we would be better disciples of Jesus.

James 3:13-16

NIV: Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

The Message: Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.

Yet again this is a case of walking the walk, not just talking the talk. Our lives, the way we live them, the things we do and say, are the evidence of what is really in our hearts, whether what we are is from God or the devil. Who is going to believe we are Christians if we behave exactly the same as those who do not believe? What is it that distinguishes us from other people? If we go around gossiping, being proud, with making money, getting that promotion, having the biggest car or house, the most well dressed children and so on, then surely we are making the things of this world our god? Putting other things, other people in God's rightful place?

It is so easy to behave like everyone else. After all, we all want to fit in, to be liked, admired, looked up to. But sometimes, it is necessary to take a stand, to come out and say that something is wrong, to refuse to take part in gossip and criticism, to look on the bright side, think the best of people not the worst all the time.

I once worked in a small office with about 30 people. The building was a converted house with all the rooms converted to offices or meeting rooms. I ended up spending a lot of time in the office preparing accounts for clients form books and records they brought in, and got to know the admin staff well. However, the one thing I absolutely hated about that office, was that whenever you walked into reception, they would be talking about someone in the office, their morals, what they had been doing, what they were wearing and so on. I just knew that as soon as I had walked out of the room, they would be discussing me too. Not pleasant.

The thing with gossip, is that you never know the facts, the whole story, the reasons why someone did whatever it was, or is dressed that way or whatever. Anything you say could be based on misinterpretation, lack of knowledge about the whole situation, jealousy, anger and so on. It is far better not to indulge in gossip in he first place. Mind you, that is often easier said than done, especially when you are only doing it "out of love".

But getting back to Kames and what he has to say here, it is clear that what we say and do are the evidence of our hearts. It is not just a case of saying or thinking the right things, we actually have to live our lives that way too. Look at Tiger Woods and how he always appeared to be squeaky clean, yet his life was a lie. What about those preachers who preach such faith filled, rousing sermons, and yet they are living lives completely at odds with the way they preach? It is difficult to love a lie, and sooner or later, we will trip up and give ourselves away.

We need to get our hearts right with God and everything else will flow from that. When God is at the centre of our lives, we will be focused on him, not on the things of this world, the money making, fame seeking, self centred ambitions of most people. If we lived our lives as if God was right by our side all the time (which He is), and if we appreciated the fact that He knew all our inmost thoughts and secrets, even the ones we never even think about ourselves (which He does), and if we took care to only say, think or do those things that were pleasing to God, just think what a better place the world would be. There would be no gossip, no back stabbing, no setting ourselves up to be better than others. We would be looking out for one another, helping each other, living the life Jesus would have us live and putting God first in everything.

With the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can do this, we just have to ask. After all, doesn't Paul tell us that the Holy Spirit lives within us, and that we are no longer controlled by sin?

Romans 8:9-11 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. (NLT)

So we need to learn to listen to that inner voice, the Holy Spirit, to seek His guidance, and to stop letting the things of this world influence our behaviour, our morals, our language. After all, the prince of this world is the devil, and do we really want him to have control over us, to lead us, guide us? We need to start letting the Holy Spirit really have control, not just on Sunday mornings when we listen to a good sermon and vow to change our ways. We can't pick and choose - one day allowing the Holy Spirit free reign and the next day giving in to every temptation we come across. Yes, there will be times when we give in to temptation, after all, we all mess up at times. But I am talking here about a deliberate disregard for the Holy Spirit, deliberately and wilfully choosing to ignore those inner promptings even though you know where they are coming from. The times when you, we, I choose to do something that we know beyond any shadow of a doubt is wrong, and yet we still go ahead and do it.

The evidence of our Christian faith will be seen in the things we do and say. We are all by nature sinful but the Holy Spirit changes us from within to become more like Christ. We just have to stop and listen to His voice within us. And that is a case of having the wisdom to allow the Holy Spirit free reign in our lives.

James 3:9-12

NIV: With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

The Message: With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?

This is so true. Just listen to the things you say yourself, or what others are saying. People you know and love, acquaintances, voices passing in the street. One minute you can hear someone cursing using God's name, and the next, they are saying the sweetest things.

It's a contradiction. How can we use our tongues to praise God, to give him the worship, and then in practically the next breathe use our tongues have a blazing argument when the most awful things can be said? And what about those people who swear every other word? Or the ones who use the name of Christ as an expletive to show how they are feeling, or even just as a swear word they have been so used to using they don't even think about what they are saying, don't realise they are using the name of the Son of God as a profanity.

How can it be right that good and bad come from the same tool, the same tongue? As James says (in the Message), how can you get apples from a raspberry bush, or strawberries from an apple tree? It just doesn't happen (unless, of course, you do some fancy genetic engineering…….)? Or what about trying to get clear cool water to drink from a puddle or mud hole? It just isn't going to happen.

What we say is a reflection of the inner person, our core beliefs and our being. Sooner or later , the things we say will give away what we really think and believe. What is in our hearts will come out sooner or later through the things we say, our actions and our deeds.

We need to control our tongues, to let the Spirit of God infill us so we say, do and think those things that are edifying to God, things that uplift and strengthen, not destroy and tear down, to encourage and support, comfort, not denigrate, deride and demolish. That doesn't mean we become robots, automatically doing anything God says, all identical clones doing, saying, thinking the same things. We have each been given free will. The love of God allows each one of us the choice. We can choose to listen to His voice, to obey His commands, do His will, or we can choose to go our own way, putting ourselves first, others last, living for no one but ourselves or we can even choose to do a little bit of both.

The choice is ours, it always has been and always will be because God would not have it any other way. His love is so great, so amazing, so wonderful, so freeing, that even knowing all that man is capable of, all the evil, the sin, the depravity, He still chooses to give us free will. To have the choice to follow Him or not. To receive His Son as our Lord and Saviour or not. To live our lives as He would have us live them and receive the rewards of an eternity in heaven, or not. The choice is ours and always will be.

So what is your choice? Is your tongue going to praise God today or blaspheme His name? Will you be choosing to accept God's will for your life or continuing on your own path, in your own way, regardless of what God (if you even believe in him) has to say?

James 3:7-8

NIV: All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

The Message: This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer.

I love the way the Message puts this, but then in the NIV it says that the tongue is a restless evil. Doesn't that just send shivers up and down your spine? A restless evil, full of deadly poison. To me, those words conjure up the image of an evil being prowling around, up and down, never still, always on the move, seeking to pervert and destroy. But then didn't Peter warn us about the devil:

1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (NIV)

Peter is describing a restless evil there too. Have you ever seen the lions and tigers at the zoo? The way they prowl around their enclosure, so sure, so soft footed, not making any noise but just prowling, looking for something or someone? I imagine the devil is like that, but he is not in an enclosure, he is free to roam around this world going wherever he chooses, seeking out believers, to draw us away from Christ, and looking for non believers to keep their eyes, their hearts and their minds firmly fixed on the things of this world.

Well, the tongue is the restless evil within each one of us. It is so easy to say the first thing that comes into our heads, to let loose with that retort, to stop bottling things up and just give our tongues free rein to say whatever we want without putting any guard or restraint on it . Have you never had someone say something to you and you just explode? Or what about the times when you are unjustly accused? Or when you overhear someone say something about you or someone very kindly informs you of some gossip about you that is being spread around? And what about the times you hear a juicy snippet of news about someone you know and you just have to pass that on to others? Maybe you have had a stressful day and when your children come asking you for something, you end up yelling at them or saying something that, as a child, they really take to heart and are hurt by your words?

The effects of a hurtful or unkind word can take years to overcome. Just think back to the times when you have been criticised and the times when you have been praised. The criticism probably cut deeper and maybe still hurts even today. Telling a child, for instance, that they are useless, will hurt them for years and will leave scars that are very slow to heal.

The worrying thing here is that James tells us that no man can tame the tongue. Yes, we can control it, watch what we say, try not to gossip, or say something cruel and hurtful. But undoubtedly, sooner or later, we will let that control slip and an unguarded word will slip out, causing possibly irreparable harm. We have to be on our guard all the time, watching every word we say. I don't think, humanly, it is possible for us to do that, to never say something that will not hurt others. And even if we succeed, the chances are we have thought the words we refrain from speaking. I know I do that. But what did Jesus say about thinking something but not doing it?

Matthew 5:21-22 You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother 'idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell 'stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill. (The Message)

So I reckon that controlling the tongue starts inside with what we think because doesn't the tongue just reflect the inner person anyway?

Matthew 15:18-19 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. (NIV)

We need to get our hearts right with God, to let the Holy Spirit change us from within to become more like Jesus. Then we will be able to control our tongues, to guard our thoughts and to stop that thought, that word before it is even imagined or spoken.

James 3:3-6

NIV: When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

The Message: A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

Woah! The tongue corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire and is itself set on fire by hell. These are strong words indeed. But so true. One word can devastate a friendship, a marriage and it can take years to build up again. The seeds of doubt and mistrust can so easily be sown by the casual word, a throwaway comment that was never intended to be taken in that way, and the other person can be so hurt by the things you have said.

Like a small rudder controlling which way a ship goes, or a small bit in the bridle controlling the way a horse goes, so the tongue controls our lives. It is so small, relatively speaking, in comparison to, say, a leg, or an arm, and yet it can do so much damage. *Yes, it can also build up and edify, but just take a look around you, see the language that is being used.

My children and I went to a theme park yesterday, and me, being the kind-hearted and considerate person I am ;), waited whilst they went on one of those extreme roller coasters and looked after the backpack (of course it was nothing to do with my feeling sick and terrified on those rides, no way!). Anyhow, when they got off the ride, they came back and were absolutely disgusted with some lads (about 16 years old) who had been sitting in front of them in the ride, and who spent the entire ride complaining in loud voices about the "f***ing ride" and how they wished they had been stoked up on meth and drink as it would have been much better. My eldest was not only disgusted by their behaviour and language, but was also appalled at the fact that they were talking in this way in front of some seven year olds who were sitting nearby. And my youngest, who is just 13 himself, felt this was a reflection on all teenagers and was very upset.

The things we say can reflect not only on us but on our beliefs, our faith, the things we really think are important. But words can build up and edify as well as pull down and criticise. How can we use our tongues to both praise God and curse him in almost the same breathe? It is commonplace nowadays for the name of Jesus to be used as a swear word. And just what was the third commandment again? You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…….

The tongue can do so much damage, can cause irreparable harm, almost without us thinking about it. No wonder James says it is set on fire by hell itself. Can’t you just imagine the devil jumping around in glee every time someone blasphemes by swearing with the name of Christ? Or when a word said in the heat of an argument destroys a person or a relationship?

We need to guard our tongues, to watch the things we say. As Jesus said in Matthew 15:18-19:

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. (NIV)

And then look at Matthew 12:36-37:

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. (NIV)

The things that we say come from our hearts, and are a reflection of who we really are, the things we truly believe in, and the way we choose to live our lives. We will have to give an account of every word spoken on the day of judgement, so shouldn't we be watching the things we say? Keeping a check on our tongues and holding back those hurtful, spiteful words? Retaliating with a kind word, not an angry word?

By our words we will be acquitted and by our words we will be condemned…….

James 3:2

NIV: We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

The Message: And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.

How many times do we open our mouths and say the first thing that comes into our head? Or maybe just speak without even thinking? Sometimes, a little forethought, a pause before

We speak would save numerous arguments, disagreements and misunderstandings. There is an old saying that it is better to keep quiet and have people think you are a fool, than to open your mouth and prove them right.

We can use our speech to gossip, mock others, put people down, chastise and rebuke, boast, complain, exaggerate, denigrate, flatter, manipulate. We can also use our speech to praise, to worship, to lift others up, give credit, honour, love. Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, CA has the following to say about the things we say:

A helpful acronym that you can use when wondering if you should spread a certain piece of information is T.H.I.N.K. Ask yourself the following questions:

T – Is it true? In other words, this thing that you have heard about someone else, is this accurate information? Or is it just gossip or something someone heard about someone else.

Have you ever had anyone tell a lie about you? How did that make you feel?

How about someone gossiping about you? The very word “gossip” just hisses. Gosssssssip! Remember, Satan is the Father of lies.

We are far too ready to pass on information before verifying if it is true or not.

H-Is it Helpful? Will sharing this information be helpful to the other person?

I- Is it Inspiring? That is clear enough.

N- Is it Necessary? Do we really need to spread this information?

K– Is it Kind? Pretty clear there.

You might say, “Greg, if I applied that T.H.I.N.K. acronym to what I said about others, I would hardly speak at all!” Ah! Perhaps that’s not such a bad idea?

(Taken from http://blog.greglaurie.com/?p=2990 )

If we all took a little time to think before we spoke, a lot of grief would be avoided. But the thing is, it is so easy to come back with a quick off the cuff response, a snappy answer to let someone know how hurt we are, how angry, or whatever. It is often easy to just say the first thing that comes into our head than it is to stop and take a few seconds to really think whether or not we should be saying those words. And what about the interesting piece of news we heard? Surely we should be letting others know exactly what is going on, how a friend, neighbour, acquaintance, did such and such and what happened to them as a result?

Well, James is telling us here that if we can control our speech, than we would be the perfect man (or woman) and able to keep perfect control over our lives. That means we should not be gossiping, spreading rumours and innuendoes, talking about others behind their backs, putting people down through the things we say, lying, flattering, using the things we say to twist and manipulate others to get what we want.

I reckon that the tongue is a reflection of who we are, it’s the outward manifestation of the inner person. What you are will come in out in the things you say. Yes, you may be able to fool many people most of the time, but if you are really mean, nasty and horrible inside, then it will be evident (maybe only occasionally) in the things you say. Similarly, if you are kind hearted, warm, generous, then that too will be reflected in your speech. Of course, we all say some pretty awful things at times. You only have to look back at arguments you have had and how you say things in the heat of the moment that you would never dream of saying otherwise, but you just retaliate and say the first hurtful thing you can. Then again, people can put up a good front and pretend to be warm hearted and generous, saying one thing and thinking something completely different, their whole life being a lie.

You can't control what others say but you can control what you say. I've learnt (well, I'm still learning, to be honest) to stop and think before I speak. It's not always easy to do this and many times I have to literally bite my tongue to stop retaliating with equally hurtful or angry words. Then when it comes to "news" (i.e. gossip) about others, there again it is a case of not knowing the full facts, not knowing what that person is going through, the things that have happened to them to bring them to that point, the reasons why they made that decision or choice, did or said whatever. So how can you pass on interesting snippets when you may completely have the wrong picture?

We may not be able to control what others are saying, but we can certainly think before we speak and control what we say.

Easter

These words were written some 700 years before Christ was born, describe his life and death, and to me, encapsulate the meaning behind Easter:

Isaiah 53

¹ Who believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?

^2-6The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
Through his bruises we get healed.
We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost.
We've all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong,
on him, on him.

^7-9He was beaten, he was tortured,
but he didn't say a word.
Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered
and like a sheep being sheared,
he took it all in silence.
Justice miscarried, and he was led off—
and did anyone really know what was happening?
He died without a thought for his own welfare,
beaten bloody for the sins of my people.
They buried him with the wicked,
threw him in a grave with a rich man,
Even though he'd never hurt a soul
or said one word that wasn't true.

¹⁰Still, it's what God had in mind all along,
to crush him with pain.
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin
so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
And God's plan will deeply prosper through him.

^11-12Out of that terrible travail of soul,
he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,
will make many "righteous ones,"
as he himself carries the burden of their sins.
Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly—
the best of everything, the highest honors—
Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch,
because he embraced the company of the lowest.
He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,
he took up the cause of all the black sheep.