Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

LITTLE THINGS Little things can mean a lot. The jerking of a pan full of frogs' legs, when touched by a knife, led to the discovery of dynamic electricity. The trembling lid of a teakettle was the beginning of the steam engine. A spider's web across the corner of a garden inspired the suspension bridge. A lantern swinging from the dome of a cathedral suggested the principle of the pendulum, by which time is measured. An apple falling from a tree revealed the law of gravity. And a cow kicking over a lantern caused the devastating Chicago fire. James considered little things so important that he spent almost a whole chapter talking about the destructive fires of evil the tongue can ignite. He said frankly: If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body (James 3:2). He warned that believers cannot continue to spew forth words of blessing and of cursing. The conversation of the Christian is changed at conversion. We are eternally at war with our tongue. It is like a wild and untamed horse that we must ride constantly to keep it from disrupting and destroying relationships. Today it would be well to give special attention to this powerful instrument. While we each ask God for a thousand tongues to praise our great Redeemer, let us each control the one we have.