Wednesday, October 5, 2011
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Today’s verses should be really sobering to all of us. Like the bridle and rudder that James spoke about yesterday, James illustrates this idea of the impact of words with a spark. But unlike yesterday’s verses, James speaks of how much damage is done with our words. Think about all the damage that has been done with our words. Think about how much damage you have done with your words. Words have incredible power to damage, harm and destroy.
Application:
Sometimes our application should just be to repent. If you have used words to hurt, harm, or destroy lately, take it to God. If you have hurt someone, go to them and ask for forgiveness.
Study the Scriptures with Ben Jennings 
This passage is saying that even if your tongue is a little part of your bodie it can still say words have shouldn’t been said, like see how if you make a little fire on the woods it can turn in to a huge fire and burn down all the trees just like your tongue it may look small but the words you day may have a huge bad impact on people and make them feel bad but I think it says that you tongue can be your ticket to hell a fire of hell.
Say* typo
Isn’t that a powerful picture Mafalda? Tiny spark –>Raging forrest fire…
I totally agree!!!!!! Even tho ur tongue is a very small part of our bodies, it still can hurt someone. It Can can use words tht maybe shouldn’t have ever been said! And u should go to god for ur actions and explain ur self. U should not try and destroy tht one person u should be giving them forgiveness.!! Thts what we really need to be doing!!!! It’s just the right thing to do!! 😀 I loved today’s verses and the application and message. I loved today’s devos!!! 🙂 I hope u guys have a amazing Wednesday! And c u all tonite!!!!! 🙂 <33 bye
Nice…
The Bible also talks about the tongue being a two edged sword. That can really do some damage like any size of fire. For me and my tongue, we have the hardest time with the people we are closest to. Sometimes you feel you need to say a particular thing but I don’t always stop and consider how it will come across or what they may think. I usually have intensions for good but the way it comes across isnt so good. My application is to ask God what He would want me to say in a particular situation and get the wisdom I need when I speak. The bible also talks about this in another passage it says “speak the truth in love”. Sometimes truth hurts but thats why we need Gods wisdom and direction on delivering it in love. I want to be a deliverer of loving words.
I’ve been thinking this week about things i’ve said to people that i regret. And trying to think of anyone I may have offended and need to ask their forgiveness.
Also, I have been thinking that we not only need to watch our tongues when we’re speaking to people face to face, but when we’re talking to other people about someone else. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in gossip. I really want to stop and think about what I say about other people. Even if they never know what I said, it could still do damage to them. It could make other people think badly of them and not want to be their friend.
Like Mafalda said, just a little spark can start a raging forrest fire. One little mean comment could start alot of unfair rumors about someone and do them damage. I’m going to ask the Holy Spirit to remind me to think before I make a comment about someone. Is it uplifting and pleasing to God? or if it’s negative, does it really need to be said?
Its very true that are tongue can cause great harm to others and I do need to ask others to forgive me. But one word can change a lot! And it can change what people think of you.
“And the tongue is a fire” that is so true! Our tongues can either be a fire extinguisher to be encouraging to someone, or it can be a fire and do much harm. I have hurt someone with my words before for sure! It’s happened several times and it’s never a pleasant outcome. Like Megan said, it’s normally with the ones we’re closest to. Sometimes I feel as though I need to be completely open and honest with someone and not even thinking about how it’ll affect them, I just say it. My application to this, would to pray to God for wisdom in situations where I want to open my mouth. Pray that the words that come out will not only honor and glorify Him, but that the words I say, will not discourage or offend anyone, but be uplifting! This is something we all encounter being around other people, and these verses really shows us how much damage we can cause if we’re slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to anger!
Great stuff! 🙂
i agree w/ mafalda! all we have 2 do is say something we shouldn’t have said and we may think its just something small but it can turn out 2 be something huge! before opening our mouths we should ask God for the words that would honor and glorify him and the right ones 2 say.if we are slow to listen,quick to speak,and quick to anger that can result in some serious damage.we should all be swift to hear,slow to speak,and slow to wrath! i believe that can really help!!! not gonna be there 2 night. 😦 some doctor called and needed to see my brother.pray that everything goes well!! one other thing,praise the Lord!!! he doesn’t hv diabeties!!!!!!! Thank u God!!!! 🙂
BTW,Happy Birthday Tim!!!! 🙂
“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things.” That is SO true! Even though the tongue is small, it can do some pretty big damage! I have definitely hurt a lot of people with my words, and I’m not proud of that. For some reason it’s a lot easier to hurt the people I love (family & friends). But these verses are actually helping me so much! & I think what Melanie said about the application is a great idea. Praying to God for wisdom (Like we learned last month) can really help! Instead of hurting people with our words, we can take it to God! 🙂 I think I can really improve with the things I say. & I’m actually really excited to be more of an encouragement to others! See you guys tonight 🙂
The tongue is small, yet sometimes when we use out tongues, BIG things come out. I have definitley screwed up with my words, and ive lost friends & trust with people. I tell someone something i shouldnt have, or i lie, you know how it is. Nothing good comes out of that! I think thats why God gave James this insight, because we all make mistakes by our words!! The book of James is awesome, because every verse helps us with our daily lives. Like the application says, we need to repent our sins to God. I know He gets dissapointed in me when i say the wrong thing, cause i feel a tug at my heart when i do! That helps a lot because im aware of the words coming out of my mouth 🙂
well pretty much everyone summed up this passage. A small spark starts a big fire. Our tongue is so small but it can cause so much damage. We should be careful with our words and try to make them out of love. Thats pretty much it 🙂 everyone else explained it so well already.
Even though the tongue is so small it can do some serious damage. We need to be careful with what we say because people are watching us.