How are you? How is your week going? How’s your tongue?
I don’t know about you, but it’s so easy for me not to think about the sins of the tongue. Or when I do think about them, I don’t think I’m as bad as other people. Or I don’t think that the sins of the tongue are as bad as other sins.
But James gets his point across in the passage we looked at this Sunday. He refers to it as a world of unrighteousness and a fire set by hell. He says that it is full of deadly poison.
And it has great power. It has the power to build others up or to tear others down.
As Jesus says in Matthew 12, the mouth speaks from the abundance from the heart. What do our tongues say about our hearts?
Some biblical examples of the sins of the tongue include cursing, gossiping, slander, complaining, lying, sinful anger, prideful boasting, coarse speaking, coarse joking, foolish talk, obscenity, deceitful flattery, criticism without any love, blasphemy, or unwholesome talk that does not help to build others up.
After reading this list, who can stand? Who can say that they are righteous with their tongues?
The only hope we have for our tongues is the redemption of Christ. He died so that our sins of the tongue may be forgiven. Through His resurrection, He gives us a new heart, and with it, we can have new tongues.
Lying underneath what we say are the fears, needs, wants, and idols of our hearts. And Jesus, through His death and resurrection, breaks down our idols and meets us in our brokenness. He heals us and restores us. And through Him, our tongues are restored as well.
Try to be cognizant of what comes out of your mouth in the next few weeks. Process your words. Examine your hearts. Pray over them. Bring them before God and rest in the redemption of Christ.
Be sure to pre-register (newlifecolorado.net/reopen) if you want to attend our worship in-person! Also, speak with D. Michael if you want to serve in various local food pantries! Lastly, don’t forget your DIY Care Packages for the homeless! Pray for one another!
In Christ,
Pastor Tim
Photo Credit: Here