Taming the Tongue
"For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matt. 12:37).
- Determines our RELATIONSHIPS.
"... the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire. The tongue ... defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison" (James 3:5-6, 8).
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Determines our MATURITY
"Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe" (1 Tim. 4:12).
- SILENCE.
"I said, 'I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle'" (Ps. 39:1). - Find a LIGHTNING ROD.
"A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Prov. 18:24). -
CRYING OUT to God in PRAYER.
"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses" (Ps. 107:6).
"A Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, 'Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed'" (Matt. 15:22).
"When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'" (Mark. 10:47).