February 19 Daily Devotional

Scripture for Day 50—James 3:1–5a

¹ Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. ² For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. ³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

Devotional:

Chapter 1 gave three "leading spiritual indicators," three signs of a genuine walk with God—a controlled tongue; care for the needy; and cleanliness from the world (vv. 26–27). Chapter 3 addresses the first—a controlled tongue. "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" (1:26).

If you don't bridle your tongue, your religion is worthless. Ah, but therein lies the problem. "For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body." To control the tongue, you have to be "perfect." Who qualifies for that?

Even so, "the tongue is a small member …" How hard can it be to control? "Yet it boasts of great things." It's small, but it has a huge influence.

The tongue is like a bit, a small piece of metal placed in the mouth of a horse. A bridle holds the bit in place and reins allow a rider to "steer" the horse. The tongue is also like a rudder. A rudder is a relatively small flat plate of material attached with hinges to the back of a ship. It directs the flow of water in order to allow a pilot to turn or steer the ship. Even though the bit and the rudder are very small, they are very influential. Likewise, even though the tongue is very small, it is very influential.

The point is, either you control your tongue or else your tongue will control you. More quickly than any other part of the body, the tongue expresses what is in the sinful heart. Therefore, getting control of your tongue is a key to getting control of yourself. The problem is, "no human being can tame the tongue" (3:8). But Jesus can!

Jesus always and only exercised perfect self-control. He never stumbled in what he said. He was a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. He performed all righteousness. Even so he died the accursed death of the cross! But he died as the Righteous One for the unrighteous in order to bring us to God. If anything proves that we are unrighteous, it's our tongues! If anything proves that we need the grace of God in Christ, it's our tongues! When God confronted Isaiah with all his holiness, Isaiah was immediately convicted that his mouth (his tongue, his speech) was filthy (Isa. 6). Ask God to forgive your wicked words for Jesus' sake. Ask Jesus to take control of your heart and to tame your tongue so as to make it an influence for righteousness rather than sin.

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