December 17th

Bridle the Tongue

James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
James 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
James 3:4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

The Power of Words

The Bible teaches much about the power of our words One verse says that death and life are in the power of, or under the control of, the tongue. Jesus taught that our words should be few, and that anything beyond that comes from evil. Another verse says that in the multitude of words there is no lack of sin. As Christians, we should learn to bridle, or take control of, our words.

Words Control the Body

The verse we are looking at in James 3:2 brings out an interesting point. He says that in many things we offend all, but if we offend not, or sin not, with our words, we are mature, and able to bridle the whole body. He is emphasizing the power of our words to control our bodies. How important our words are!

James goes on to give two illustrations of what he is talking about. He uses the example of a bit in a horse’s mouth being able to turn the whole body of the horse. And he speaks of how a great ship can be turned about by a very small helm, and be made to go wherever the captain desires.

The Course of Nature

James brings out a point a little later in the chapter about why our words affect the course of our lives.

James 3:6 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.

Wrong words can set fire to the course of nature, or, that is, to the cycle of cause and effect, and, according to James, it is set on fire by hell itself. Hell itself has an interest in what we say, and a desire to affect our words. Should we learn to bridle our tongues? Are our words important?

Start today on the journey of bridling the tongue. Jesus said that out of the heart of a good man, good things come to pass, because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Fill your heart with the good things of God’s promises, learn to be selective with your words, and let the course of your life be set accordingly.