Don't Do It!

James 4:11-12

 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ¹² There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

So I am driving into work today and all the talk on the radio is about how one football player is calling a coach a racist. Now there is one thing I have learn about public speaking and speaking on the topic of racism …  Don't Do It! You are bound to either hurt someone’s feelings or start some conversation that will hurt someone’s feelings…  so the easy thing to do would be to change the subject, but I am going to embrace this one because it illustrates this passage so well today.

So the Eagles coach (Chip Kelly) cut or traded a handful of players that were really good. Some of those players happened to be black and one of those players has been on the news recently claiming that it was because of racism that the white coach cut the black players.

Please understand: I know that racism exists and is a terrible thing, and many people have to live under a cloud of racial injustice their entire lives and that offends God and it is simply wrong.

Maybe the coach is a racist and this player has some experience that he hasn't shared with anyone…  but as of right now the only thing they are going on is that he cut a few black players from the team. No other evidence.

Then, when you take 2 seconds and look at the situation, you realize that he also cut white players, and this one black player that was traded was then replaced with 3 black players…   now, again, maybe there is some racism that we have not heard about, but for now all that this guy is saying is that the coach is racist because he traded him for more black players. It’s a silly argument. The player looks foolish making these unfounded claims.

So many times we choose to speak evil against someone else without getting to know them or getting to understand them. There is a difference between not understanding a person and choosing to make evil stuff up about them.

As a Christian, even when you know you are right, you need to always think about what you are saying and remember to demonstrate “Love” in everything you do.

1)         We know we shouldn't judge people because we know it hurts us. Tell about a time that you got hurt by someone judging you.

2)         We all know and say that it’s wrong to judge others, yet we are all guilty of it often…  where do you have a problem judging people?

3)         “Do not speak _________ against one another, ___________.”

4)         Take a minute and journal about this.

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Written by Jeffery Harkins

As Easy As Picking On Kids in a Park

James 4:11-12

 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ¹² There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

-The Mosaic Law consisted of 365 negative commands and 248 positive for a total of 613 commands. It was the Law God gave to Israel from Moses.

-The issue James is confronting here in 4:11-12 is judging others. If they are speaking evil (gossiping) and judging about one another they are speaking evil of and judging God’s Law. (vs. 11) Only God who is the judge has the freedom to judge. (vs. 12) If He wanted us to judge He would have made us the judge, hence the reason why we are not the judge.

Things are different in our days; we aren’t living by the law anymore, we are living by God and His Word. If you speak harshly of, are rude to, gossip against, or verbally harass someone you are doing the exact same thing to God. We are taking the creators’ creation and assuming we have the right to judge it (whoever or whatever it may be). I was at a park one day and saw someone else’s misbehaving child; he was throwing sand at the slide, so I went up to him and started yelling at him. I told him mean things, I was judging him, I was being rude, I wanted him to feel bad for what he was doing, and then I went home and gossiped about what he had done. I did not have the right to jump into this child’s life and beat him up like that or go home and talk bad about him, I was not his mother, it was a sin to use those harsh words, and it was not my place. Now if this story was true, and his parents were watching, I probably would have gotten into some kind of trouble. But this is what James is getting at; we do not have the freedom to treat others like that (whether they are close friends, family, boyfriend/girlfriend, or strangers). It is not our place to be mean, gossip against, or judge others. God is the only one who can and will judge someone, and it might be you if you are trying to take God’s role and judge someone. 

Questions:

1.   Can you think of someone you have spoken harshly to or about? Is there some way you can apologize to them? Or maybe you need to bring it up before God first, and then figure out how to make it right with that person.

2.   Do you feel bad for gossiping? If yes, why? If no, then ask God to help you feel compassion for His people and to break your heart for what breaks His.

3.   What verses could you start memorizing to help you fight the battle against gossip? ( Example: Ephesians 4:29, Matthew 12:36, Psalm 101:5, Proverbs 16:28)

4.   Challenge: The next time you start to judge someone, examine your own heart before you judge theirs. Ask yourself how you could be an encouragement to them instead of an abuser and try praying for them.

Matthew 7:2-4 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4"Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?…”

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Written by Sarah Davis

Don’t touch the rabid Squirrels and Raccoons

James 3:17-18- 

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 

18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

That title got your attention, I bet. What about it though caught your attention? Did I have you at hello? Or was it the obvious danger factor implied by rabid squirrels and raccoons? Hopefully, you realize that if you were ever to see said rodents, you would know better than go out and touch, pet or adopt these creatures. That would be something we theologians call “unwise”.  It is just an illustration, but go with it for now.

            The verses in James 3 are just full of wisdom and such, even though it may say “thou shall not touch rabbit rodentia”.  It does, however, talk about controlling your tongue, wisdom and other things (it is a really short chapter. Go read it again).  Verses 17 and 18 are in a way the conclusion of James’ spiel on wisdom. 

            “But the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all, pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” That there, would be a good closing thesis (at least I, a high school student think so) to a paper titled “Why you should be Wise”. I am not sure how exactly one could take a different spin off of what this is saying, so, here is James 3:17-18 in a nutshell – Be wise. That means be pure. Be Peace-loving. Be considerate, submissive and full of good mercy. Be impartial and sincere. This, as Jesus said, will bear “good fruit” (yet another thing wisdom is).

            So, while you are reading this, pray for God to help you live wisely; to show compassion and mercy, to be peace-loving and considerate.  Pray that God will show you (and help you) how to live as one who has wisdom – Go reread those verses, pray and avoid all rabid rodents. 

Answer This:

1. Tell your own recent "rabid animal" story - something you did that was just so dumb and unwise that you're embarrassed to even tell people about it.

2. How do you define "wisdom".

3. Where is the best place to find wisdom.

4. What do I mean if I say that "wisdom is not just knowing the right thing to do" ?

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Written by Caleb Cleck

look at my wisdom

Ever watch White Wolves? For those of you that haven't had the privilege, a group of teens and their leader go on a backpacking trip, very much like the Wilderness Trip we do but with less canoeing. Their goal is to get to the top of Eagle Rock. They eventually make it to the top and disaster strikes! Their trip turns into a rescue mission. All throughout the movie, one of the teens, Scott, has camping experience and just seems to be wise in making decisions and knowing how to handle these scenarios that none of them have ever been in before. Towards the end of the movie, Benny decides to leave on his own and get help. He goes in the middle of the night without discussing it with the group. When Scott wakes up, he sees a note from Benny and is ticked off! He starts complaining about how they should've discussed this and they should've decided together. Adam looks at him and responds "no you mean you should have decided. Let's face it you're just angry because you're the one that has to sit here and wait, while he's the one that got to go." Scott angrily kicks some dirt because Adam's right. Scott tries to make it seem like his concern is the group when really he's mad because he's got some jealously and selfishness.

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. (James 3:13-14 ESV)

In chapter 3, James has been talking about the tongue, and how it's so small yet powerful. He talks about how a spring or a fig tree can only produce what they are made to produce. After all that, he then starts talking about wisdom and good conduct.

If a fig tree produces really delicious figs, it doesn't have to brag about it and tell people. Its fruit speaks for it. Likewise, if you are wise and understanding, you don't need to brag about it; the way you act should demonstrate it. It's back to the whole idea of faith without works being dead.

If you are trying to be wise, but with selfish motives, you are being false to the truth. Eventually what is in your heart will be revealed.

The book of Proverbs spends a great deal of time talking about the difference between those who are full of wisdom and those who are full of folly. Here are just a few verses:

The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin... The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence... The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near. (Proverbs 10:8, 11, 14 ESV)

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. (Proverbs 15:2 ESV)

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, (Proverbs 3:13 ESV)

My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. (Proverbs 3:21-22 ESV)

The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace. (Proverbs 3:35 ESV)

Answer This:

1) Be honest- are you truly wise and understanding or do you tend to be motivated by jealously and selfishness?

2) "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his _____________________ let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom."

3) How does your conduct relate to your wisdom/understanding?

4) Take some time to journal about this passage.

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Written by Amber

a wee little man

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. (James 3:10-12 ESV)

Based on my own life, the comments of some of the other devo writers and conversations with some of you guys, I know our speech is a big deal. It has been a stumbling block for many of us in the past or currently. Why is this even something worth talking about? Cursing, gossiping, sarcasm and what not don't seem like that big of a deal compared to stealing, lying or murder.

Normally we stick a personal story/example in here, but the example that came to mind was a Bible story:
And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:18-25 ESV)

This guy did everything the Law asked of him, but Jesus said he lacked one thing; he needed to sell his stuff and give to the poor. He can't do it, his stuff is too important to him (Says so in Matt. 19:22). Now just to clarify, this isn't a command to all of us that we cannot be wealthy. In the next chapter, we read about Zacchaeus who was not required to give away his money but he did so because it was no longer important to him once he met Jesus.

Alright, so how does this story apply to James 3 and our mouths? The rich ruler did things right--he kept the commandments. However his one stumbling block was being greedy with his money. But that one issue stopped him from while-heartedly loving and serving God.

The same is true with us and our speech. We can do really well keeping all the commandments--we go to church, read our Bibles, pray, go to church. But we struggle with the words that come out of our mouths.

James says mouths shouldn't be both good and bad, the same way that a spring can't have both fresh and salt water or a tree can only produce its own kind of fruit.

Your speech can be a stumbling block that stops you from whole-heartedly loving God (just like the money did for the rich ruler). Our mouths are an indicator of what's in our hearts. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 ESV)


Our speech should be used as a blessing, not a curse. Here's how you can do that: Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29 ESV)


If your speech is not what it should be, use this verse as a prayer: Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! (Psalm 141:3 ESV)

Answer This:
1) do you struggle with your speech--cursing, gossiping, sarcasm, inappropriate jokes/stories?
2) what is a practical step you can take this week to improve your speech?
3) "From the same ________________ come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ________________ so."
4) take some time to journal about this passage.

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Written by Amber

You?? You?? You go there?

James 3:6-9 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

So we were out of town over the weekend of Easter and I heard it got really windy here in Phoenixville. The morning after I got home we got a text from my wife with a picture of our bunny cage – the roof had blown off while we were gone. My terrible wife was disappointed because the bunny didn’t jump out and run away (she doesn’t like pets) but when given the chance to bounce free our bunny stayed in his cage. The bunny is trained to stay in the cage if it wants to be fed. The bunny also has a little plastic “potty” in his cage … he’s not perfect but he’s pretty much potty trained…  took longer for my kids to get potty trained. If you have pets you know that you can train them to do stuff. Animals can be tamed and trained, some people even tame wild animals (don’t do that it’s dumb) but people do it with good success.

This passage says that an animal can be tamed but the human tongue is a different story.

When I was in high school as a freshman and sophomore I played football. I also was very active in the school Bible study. One day the big name Senior quarterback Bobby Green came walking into the locker room and asked something about the school’s Bible study and where it was meeting that night. Now Bobby had never come to the Bible study, I would have noticed that, everyone noticed what Bobby Green did. If he started coming to the Bible Study then everyone would start coming!! Imagine how cool that would be that we could be getting the Gospel out to all the cool kids in the school and then all the other kids would want to come too. So Bobby is asking in the locker room about where the Bible study is and so I answered and told him who’s house it was at. He stopped, looked at me, then laughed ..  “Harkins, you don’t go to a Bible Study!”. You see, when I was at Youth Group and around my Christian friends I was a Super-Christian, I was like leading stuff at Youth Group. Around my family I was also a Super-Christian…  but in the locker room…  that was different. In the locker room and on the football field I pretty much cursed like a Norwegian sailor. I loved Jesus, but I had a terrible mouth because I wanted to fit in…   Now Bobby Green, most popular kid in school, is interested in the Bible and when I try to talk he actually laughed because he didn’t believe I had anything to do with the Bible or God.   Ouch.

The tongue is so hard to tame. It’s been years since I’ve cursed or taken God’s name in vain. I just don’t talk like that anymore, I can get proud because I have tamed that tongue…  well, until I get into an argument with my wife. The woman I love more then my life itself but if I get stuck on myself and end up arguing with her I know exactly what to say to hurt her. It’s awful that we hurt the ones that we love, but it's true we do it and it usually comes from our tongue. It’s so hard to tame the tongue. Without God, it’s simply impossible.

1. When is the last time that you wounded someone with your tongue (words).

2. You don’t tame anything without a plan – what do you plan to do to make yourself choose better choices with your tongue?

3. With it we _________ our Lord and Father, and with it we _________ people who are made in the likeness of God.

4. Take a minute to journal about this topic.

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Written by Jeffrey Harkins

Right Side, Left Side

James 3:4-5 - 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. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 

One story pops into my mind right away when I read this passage every time.

So it was a pretty nice day at the end of a really long and terrible week for weather. The sun was out and there were not many clouds we set into the water with our partners and paddled for what would be the last long day or paddling our canoes on this long trip. As we paddled through one large section of this massive lake things were fine, but as we got into an area between two islands the wind started blowing very hard. Soon the waves were kicking up and the wind was really strong coming into our faces. We had to keep our canoes aimed directly into the wind, if we moved off to the right or left even a little bit it would push the canoe sideways and the waves would start coming in over the side of the boat. It was started to get pretty stressful.

I was in the back of a canoe with someone, but we noticed that Amber and my German daughter (exchange student) Julia were really struggling… Julia was getting nervous and she and Amber were having a hard time controlling the boat. Every time I looked back they were further and further behind. Eventually I looked back and they have pulled the canoe all the way to the shore and they were walking their boat in the ankle deep water. This would take them all day to get to where we needed to be.

We switched and Julia got into the front of my boat. She was scared but she and I had built some trust over the year that we had lived together so we set back out into the waves and the wind. The wind was just as strong and the boat was just as hard to control… one wrong stroke and we were sideways. But Julia trusted me and listening to my words as I directed her which side of the boat to paddle on. I would yell “Right Side, Left Side” and one stroke at a time we made it against the wind to where we were headed.

This passage makes me think of that as I see how strong the wind can push a boat anywhere it wants, and how one slight move with your paddle and it will “rudder” the boat in any direction. But it is the power of words that I think about here, usually we use this passage in a negative sense that our words can tare people down and we need to tame our tongue, but that day on Lake Manitou we learned a lot about the power of your words. Amber and Julia were both trying their hardest to make the canoe go the right way, but they were not connecting… but when Julia got into the boat with me she could get past some of her insecurities and listen directly to my words, those words caused actions and she was able to do what was needed to be done to direct the boat. It’s not enough just to determine to NOT say bad things with our tongue, instead we need to learn how to use our words to HELP get you to where you want to be.

1) Can you think of a time that your words changed the outcome of a situation for the worse?

2) Can you think of a time that your words were used to change the outcome of a situation for the better?

3) So also the tongue is a _________ member, yet it boasts of _________ things.

4) What action steps will you take this week to allow you tongue to be used for Good and not Evil?

Take a minute and journal your thoughts here. 

got a light?

The other day I saw a teacher from my school in her car and she was smoking a cigarette. It really surprised me to see someone who I look up to so much doing something that almost anyone would say is very bad. I understand that smoking is her own life decision and really shouldn’t judge her for doing so, but it just took me aback.

James 3:1 talks about teachers, saying that not many people should become teachers because they will be judged more strictly. We tend to hold those who tell us how to act and what to do to higher standards, so it is very important that when you are in teaching positions you are careful to do and say the appropriate things.

The passage goes on to say, that we all make mistakes sometimes, but those who never mess up with their speech are perfect and have their whole body in check. We can get ourselves into a lot of trouble by just saying the wrong things.

We’ve all been told that our actions speak louder than our words, but sometimes what we say is just as important as what we do. And sometimes it’s what we don’t say that is the most important. Proverbs 17:28 says, “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” It is very easy to be provoked by others and say things that we shouldn’t out of frustration or anger, but sometimes just holding our tongues is best.

James 3:3 likens our words to a bit, a small piece of metal put in a horse’s mouth that is attached to reins and allows the rider to steer it. Such a small device has the power to turn the whole animal, and in the same way, our words can affect all of us. They can choose our paths and have permanent effects on people, so we need to be very careful with them and think about what we want to say before actually saying it.

Answer This:

1. Have you tried to be a teacher in ways that you should not be?
2. How have you been using you words? Is this the way you should be using them?
3. When do you need to be silent instead of speaking?
4. Take some time to journal about this passage.

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Written by Hannah Pergolizzi

get low, low, low, low

James 1:22-25

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

 I played a couple years of football in high school. I wasn't good at all but luckily enough for me the entire team was terrible so I was able to get into a few games and play JV. I got called up to dress for a Thanksgiving day Varsity game. There was pretty much no change I was getting into this game but it was nice that I got to dress for the game. However, the circumstances happened that I got the nod and I actually got into the game. Not only would I now have the chance to tackle someone and show the Varsity coach that I could play, but this was against H-a-d-d-o-n-f-i-e-l-d (I stretched it out so you would read the name with a voice of disdain…  remember how your mom taught you not to hate people and stuff like that…  well your mom didn’t grow up next to Haddonfield.

Perfect combination…  Thanksgiving day game…  one of the biggest rivalry games in the state, everyone is watching… the down and yardage makes us know that it’s be a run up the middle and its either gonna come to my side or the other guy next to me, but the chances are one of us will get to make this tackle.  Haddonfield was known for speedy little guards…  so this play would probably be a “counter”, which means the gap I was supposed to fill would seem empty so I’d step in just in time to get killed by a “pulling” guard from the other side… then the full back would come through that gap. If by chance I got past the guard then this fullback was tough and mean, and he could get really low…  all I had to do was get lower then him and get my shoulderpad down below his shoulderpads…  then even if I couldn't bring him down by myself the linebackers were gonna be there in a second to help me out… I could do this, I got this… 

HIKE!!! (actually it was Haddonfield I think they snapped the ball by saying “We are better then you”) … the play starts… the tackle in front of me gets low and goes the other way… I know its a run and I know its coming my way and I know there is a guard about to kill me..  I see him coming, I did a “swim technique" to get past him, I am face to face with this full back…  he is dipping down and I am standing up… standing up - whyyyyyyyyy????   yeah, he hit me so hard, the impact lifted me a little and knocked me right on my back… the full back stepped forward right onto my chest, planted his stupid Haddonfield foot and made a cut past the guy trying to tackle him (from my chest!) and he got the first down.  I didn’t play another play.

Coach knew that would happen… that’s why he told us about getting low.. I heard him too, I knew all about the right thing to do… but I was a “hearer of his words” and not “a doer of his words”. I heard him, but I didn’t do what he said.

So many people will hear about Jesus but not do what he said… and it will work out for them about as well as my football career worked out for me.

 Answer This:

1. When have you been a hearer and not a doer of something that someone said?

2. When have you been a hearer and not a does of something God said?  How did that work out for you?

3. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”

Take a minute and journal about this.

If you can't say something nice...

I was sitting in Mrs. Duffany's second grade classroom. All of the desks were arranged in a big square, so as we were working on our assignment, we could all see each other. Sitting across from me was the prettiest, most popular girl in our class. She suddenly burst out laughing and exclaiming "Oh my God!" as the boy next to had whispered something in her ear. Of course, everybody wanted to know the secret he had just shared. She turned and told someone else. Then this other boy started pestering them, asking them to tell him the secret. She eventually gave in and whispered it in his ear. Soon as she was done, he loudly exclaimed, "Amber wears diapers?!"

I wanted to shrivel up in a ball and die. I don't remember what the teacher did or what happened after that. But I was crushed. How embarrassing!

And it was true. The boy that initially whispered it was my neighbor and so I figured my sister must have told him which made it that much more hurtful. (And before you get mad at my sister - She didn't tell him. His mom saw diapers in the trashcan, asked my mom about it and she told her I wear them to bed. His little brother overheard it and told him.)

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:19-21 ESV)

We often talk about actions speaking louder than words and emphasizing how important our actions are. However… Words can be a very, very powerful thing, too!

It's 23 years since I was in second grade (gosh I'm old) and I can still remember that like it was yesterday. I'm sure I'm not alone and that all of you can think of one, if not many different scenarios where you can clearly remember hurtful words that someone said to you.

Because of the power words can have, James is telling us to be slow to speak. Quick, snippy comments we make can hurt someone deeply. Just like each of us can remember words said to us, there are others who can hear our hurtful words in their heads years later.

In addition to pointing out the destruction of filthy, wicked words, he also points out that other words can save our souls. Words can have a huge negative impact or a huge positive impact. It was with words that God created the world. God's words have calmed winds, waves and storms.

I know words are powerful, but I need to be reminded of the power they can have. James will come back to this whole idea of our words more in chapter 3. Since it's something that he mentions repeatedly, we'd be wise to pay attention and learn what he's teaching.

Think about your words. Try to slow down your quick, witty comments. Sarcasm can be funny, but also hurtful. Speak words that bring life. Here are some verses that remind us of these truths:

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29 ESV)

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, (Matthew 12:36 ESV)

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18 ESV)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 ESV)

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. (Proverbs 25:11 ESV)

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 ESV)

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6 ESV)

Answer This:

1) Do you have a story like mine – a story with hurtful words you haven't forgotten?

2) Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to ___________, slow to ___________, slow to anger;

3) Of the verses listed above, what one jumps out at you the most? Why?

4) Take some time to journal about this passage.

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Written by Amber Carter