Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 307 – James 3:1-5 – We All Make Many Mistakes – Growing As Disciples
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. James 3:1-5 (NLT)
Your Mouth
What words are coming out of your mouth? How are the words of your mouth guiding the course of your life? What does that mean? Are you speaking words filled with faith? Are you speaking words filled with doubt? Are you speaking life giving words that will bless the lives of others according to their needs? Are you speaking harmful and hurtful words that will curse the lives of others? Are you getting a sense of what I am talking about when I ask, “What words are coming out of your mouth?” Yes, I do. Tell me what you have noticed about my questions. I see that I have a choice to make. Yes, you do have a choice to make. Tell me more about the choice that is before you. My words can be helpful or hurtful. My words can bring life, or my words can bring death. You do clearly see the choice that is before you.
I would like you to know something else. What’s that? Your words will reveal the condition of your heart. How so? Whatever is in your heart will be revealed by your words. If you heat is full of faith, then your words will be full of faith. If your heart is filled with doubt, then your words will be filled with doubt. If you are kind and loving your words will bless the lives of others, according to their needs. If you are bitter and angry your words will curse the lives of others. I see. So, what does all that I am saying to you tell you? I need to guard both my heart and my words. Is that a task that you can handle all by yourself? Not hardly, not at all, really. What do you need? I need your help. I need you to change my heart. I need you to transform my mind. I need you to help me to think your thoughts and speak your words. Do you believe that I will change your heart and transform your mind so that you can think my thoughts and speak my words? Yes, I do believe you will do that work in me, for me, and through me. That’s good. That is exactly what I do in you, for you, and through you, so you can think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me. Thank you, Lord.
Lord, I have made many mistakes, taken missteps, and sinned with the words that have come out of my mouth. Forgive me. Help me to guard my heart and my mouth. Help me to speak only life-giving words that will richly bless others according to their needs. Amen
Key Question… How are being careful to guard both your heart and the words that come out of your mouth?
Living It Out… Rely on the Lord to help you to guard your heart and the words of your mouth.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to guard your heart and the words of your mouth.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to guard your heart and mouth.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you guard both your heart and the words that come out of your mouth.
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