Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Disciplining the Tongue
James  3: 1-6

  Dr. V. T. Samuel,
Trinity  MTC,  Houston
6 And 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.
 
There are several references in the Bible on the need for discipline in our entire life.  In early childhood, a child is socialized based on the values and mores of the culture. In that process, children go through the process of positive or negative disciplining, both verbal and physical. Most of the time, the impact of such discipline lasts through a life time for good or for bad. In Hebrews 12:5-6, the author quotes from Proverbs 3:11-12 which admonishes us to have a disciplined life based on early childhood socialization.

 The passage for today’s meditation is based on James’ exhortation on practical Christian life.  The first six verses of James chapter 3, using the metaphors of bridle, rudder and wild fire, the writer highlights the need for disciplining the tongue. Large ships are guided by a relatively small rudder in comparison to the size of the ship. A powerful horse is reigned in by a bridle in the mouth. One has to be accountable for the words that come out of the tongue, a small part of our body.

 
Apostle James teaches that we should be extremely cautious and careful in our use of the tongue. It is more powerful than the rudder that guides the ship, the bridle that controls the horse, and the wildfire that destroys the huge forest. In our use of the tongue, we praise God, commend others, communicate our ideas, hurt others and sometimes say sorry when others have been hurt. In spite of the latest technological advances in communication, there is nothing short of personally apologizing or saying sorry to the person who is hurt by our words. 

 
In James 3:8 we read, “… but no man can tame the tongue, It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison”. Disciplining or controlling our tongues involves a honest and continuous effort. It begins in our childhood and continues till the end. Our Lord Jesus is the prime example for us to follow. Even on the cross, He never responded to the insults hurled at  him. For we read in I Peter 2:23 “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return…”  Instead, he offered the Paradise experience for the one-liner prayer of the other thief on the cross.

PRAYER

Eternal, ever loving and forgiving God, help us to discipline our tongues so that we may always use appropriate language to praise you and to communicate with others.  In Jesus’s name. Amen    
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
 
Preach the Gospel at all times….if necessary use words (St. Francis of Assisi).

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