Week 39 - James 3

The Tongue: Bridle, Rudder & Fires of Our Lives…

The Heart: Leader, Pilot & Transformer of Our Lives!!!

If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.

Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! James 3:3-6

Don’t know about you but it’s happened to me again. While reading James 3 several times today and praying that the Spirit would lead me in sharing my thoughts with you I realized that my tongue had already betrayed me a couple of times. But the good news is that James ends the chapter proclaiming the remedy for my worldly tongue.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:17-18

For most of my life I considered my calling to be that of an educator and was aware of the warning that "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness" (James 3:1). But that did not concern me because my passion was for interacting with anyone wanting to learn new ways to reach their full potential in this life and beyond.

My teaching was always about taming one’s self to do the things necessary to be successful in whatever area they were choosing to go. The focus was about shaping the mind not about transforming the heart. It's that worldly mind that keeps betraying my heart because I continue to think I am in control as the rider in the saddle or the pilot of the ship. I’ve come to know that I am always a minute or two away from being throw off the horse, ship wrecked or battling an out of controlled fire. Then you know exactly what I am saying to colleagues, friends & family and it's not pretty.

but no human being can tame the tongue.

It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.

My brothers, these things ought not to be so. James 3:10

 A transformed heart with Christ as King is the only way to tame our worldly tongue. It’s the Wisdom from Above (v. 17) that will lead, pilot and transform the way we speak. Christ shared this teaching with his disciples again and again in the Gospels.

You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil?

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45

I pray that you have a transformed heart for our Lord and Savior. Yes, it’s a daily reset of the heart and mind with prayers and focus on Christ above all else to provide us with the meekness of wisdom (v. 13) to face the fires of this life.

 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

I truly appreciate your prayers for me and my heart and I’m praying for you and your heart too, God is Great!!!

 — James Kelley