Taming the Tongue

As Hurricane Florence may knock me off-line or powerless, I am typing this up in advance for automatic posting in case we have to get out. 

This Sunday's Epistle reading, James 3:1-12, contains stark warnings to both teachers and the rest of us about the dangers of the words we utter, 

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.  For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.  If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.  Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.  So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!
 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell.  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind,  but no human being can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.  Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish?  Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

When I was young, I used profane language frequently when I was upset. After surrendering to Jesus, one of the first things He did was tame my tongue (as far as profanity goes). I have been blessed with that gift ever since. It was nothing I could do for myself. The tongue cannot be tamed by any act of will power.

Now if He can only tame my keyboard.