She Reads Truth: JamesSample

How Great a Forest

As a mother I have struggled hard with my tongue. It became apparent early on, when my oldest was just a toddler, that this was not a fleeting struggle but something I would continually wrestle with - spiritually, physically and mentally - in my role as a guardian to these precious young souls. I will never forget the look in my daughter’s eyes when I realized something had to change and, worse still, that I was powerless to change it. I surrendered my tongue and its words to the Lord that day, and I’ve surrendered them countless times since.

“Taming the tongue” is not just religious-speak to me. It is not just a heading in the text of my Bible. It is one of the most heartfelt prayers of my heart, one of the darkest manifestations of my sin.

In Chapter 3, James describes the tongue as the epitome of hypocrisy. “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9, ESV). And here’s the kicker: We are all guilty of this - every one of us, in every phase of life.

James does not give us a tidy “How To” at the end of this passage, no foolproof answer for ending this struggle which takes place in each of us. He simply gives analogy after analogy of how our words can bring life and direction or death and destruction.

“How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!” (James 3:5b, ESV)

Our words have so much power, more than we usually care to acknowledge. If we knew - really knew - the weight our words carried in each person that receives them, how would that change what we say? Would the flames of hypocrisy overcome us if we could see the fires we spark?

Sisters, these words from James should bring us to our knees. Our inability to control our tongues and rein in our thoughts should cause us to cry out, “Help us, Oh Lord!” It should cause us to plead to the Father for wisdom, as James will encourage us to do in tomorrow’s passage.

Praise God that He hears us! Just as grace pours into the darkest parts of our hearts, igniting the hope of the the Gospel, so does His grace pour over the fires we start with our words. The hope of Jesus and the forgiveness of the Father extends to this place, too.

Father, we are weak, but your power shines bright in our powerlessness. May your truth and mercy fill us up that we might pour it out for others with our words. In Jesus’ name we ask it, Amen.

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