Good morning sisters and brothers,
We don't read from James a lot, but it's a really great letter. In this passage James warns about how dangerous words can be. While he seems entirely negative, he also knows that words can help, as he discusses earlier. At the same time, anyone who has ever found yourself hurting after a tough argument or wishing you could take back a hasty, angry sentence can see the truth in James's words. Speech is powerful both for good and for harm, so chose your words with care and love.
God bless,
Sam
James 3:1-18
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.2For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.
3If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6And the tongue is a fire.
The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Showing posts with label speech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label speech. Show all posts
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Sunday, November 25, 2012
words and conflict
Good morning brothers and sisters,
Anyone who has ever had a hurtful conflict with another person will probably recognize the truth in James's words. While our words have power to heal, they also have power to hurt. James talks about both the danger of our words and some of the other forces that cause conflict in our lives.
God bless,
Sam
Anyone who has ever had a hurtful conflict with another person will probably recognize the truth in James's words. While our words have power to heal, they also have power to hurt. James talks about both the danger of our words and some of the other forces that cause conflict in our lives.
God bless,
Sam
1
James 3:3-18
3If we put bits into the mouths of
horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4Or look
at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them,
yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot
directs. 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of
great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6And
the tongue is a fire.
The tongue is placed among our members as a
world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature,
and is itself set on fire by hell. 7For every species of beast and
bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human
species, 8but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of
deadly poison. 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we
curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same
mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be
so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and
brackish water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield
olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
13Who is wise and understanding among
you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of
wisdom. 14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your
hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15Such wisdom
does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16For
where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and
wickedness of every kind. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits,
without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18And a harvest of
righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
food and speech
Good morning sisters and brothers,
Jesus continues his response to the Pharisees who criticized his disciples for eating with ceremonially unclean hands. He argues that eating with unclean hands doesn't make someone unclean because the food that we eat goes into our stomach, not into our soul. The same argument held up later as the church was figuring out how to relate to "unclean" food or sharing the table with gentiles. Food is just food. Where the mouth reflects and impacts our spiritual lives is in what we say. This passage reminds me again of the power of words and my own need to be more careful about how I use them.
God bless,
Sam
Matthew 15:10-20
10Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 13He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.”
15But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”
Jesus continues his response to the Pharisees who criticized his disciples for eating with ceremonially unclean hands. He argues that eating with unclean hands doesn't make someone unclean because the food that we eat goes into our stomach, not into our soul. The same argument held up later as the church was figuring out how to relate to "unclean" food or sharing the table with gentiles. Food is just food. Where the mouth reflects and impacts our spiritual lives is in what we say. This passage reminds me again of the power of words and my own need to be more careful about how I use them.
God bless,
Sam
Matthew 15:10-20
10Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” 12Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 13He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.”
15But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”
Thursday, July 7, 2011
demons, speaking and judgment
Good morning brothers and sisters,
When Jesus expels a demon from a man the religious leaders accuse him of using Satan's power to do it. Jesus replies that Satan can't cast out demons because that would mean his kingdom was divided. Instead, like an invader tying up a strong man to rob his house, Jesus binds Satan and frees those in chains by the power of God. He also warns the leaders and the crowd that what comes out of our mouths is a sign of what is in our hearts. That's a haunting reminder that what we say to others matters.
Blessings on your ministry today,
Sam
Matthew 12:22-37
22Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23All the crowds were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons.” 25He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
29Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33“Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
When Jesus expels a demon from a man the religious leaders accuse him of using Satan's power to do it. Jesus replies that Satan can't cast out demons because that would mean his kingdom was divided. Instead, like an invader tying up a strong man to rob his house, Jesus binds Satan and frees those in chains by the power of God. He also warns the leaders and the crowd that what comes out of our mouths is a sign of what is in our hearts. That's a haunting reminder that what we say to others matters.
Blessings on your ministry today,
Sam
Matthew 12:22-37
22Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. 23All the crowds were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons.” 25He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
29Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. 30Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33“Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; 37for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
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