Caption: Who Does The Controlling? Text : James 3:2-12 Jam 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. Jam 3:3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Jam 3:4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Jam 3:5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. Jam 3:11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Jam 3:12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. Every car has a steering wheel. The steering wheel is the part that is used to control the movement of the car; although it is a small part as compared to some of the other parts, it is the part that controls the cars movement. But until someone takes up the steer and controls the movement of the car, the car by itself cannot move or control itself. If if happens that the cars movement or navigation is bad, it is best to consult the one doing the controlling not the object for controlling. We all stumble in many ways. The scripture tells us that if anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. Here, our attentions are being drawn to the words that come out from a mans mouth and the tongue that is used to control the flow of the words that come out. Bits are put in the mouth of horses to make them obey and follow the direction we want them to go. With the bit in the mouth of the horse, one can easily get the horse to move in the direction he wants it to move. A ship has a large body part, but this large body part has a small part that is used to control its movement and navigation. Without this rudder, this whole big ship cannot be controlled. So we get to see that the rudder has got a very important role to play. Taking the bit into consideration, it is the part that is used to control the horses movement; but the bit by itself cannot move and control the movement of the horse, unless someone takes hold of it and controls it. Likewise the ship; though the rudder is the part used in controlling the whole ship, the rudder by itself cannot do the controlling, unless the pilot takes hold of it and begins to control it. The rudder itself needs someone to control and drive it; until then, the whole ship remains at one position. Although the rudder and bit are needed to control the movements of the ship and horse respectively, most importantly, they need someone who will handle and control them. Without the one who controls, they both cannot be moved. In the same way, the whole human body needs control at each and every point in time; and one part that plays a very key role is the tongue. As small as it is, it can either build one up or lead one to ruin and destruction. It is likened to a small spark that can set a whole forest on fire. We are even told that it can corrupt a person and set the whole course of the person on fire. This tells us that if the tongue is not tamed, it can lead a whole person to trouble and even the whole course of his life to ruin and destruction. It is a small part though, but if not tamed, can really bring destruction, ruin, trouble, curses and problems to ones life. But we are told in the 8th verse that no man can tame the tongue. But we are also told that if anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check, meaning that the perfect man is one who keeps his tongue tamed. Just as the rudder controls the movement of a ship and the bit controls the movement of the horse, in the same way, the tongue controls the flow of words that do come out of the mouth of a man. The tongue does not control body movement, but rather, the flow of words. Just as the rudder itself needs to be controlled by a pilot, in the same way, the tongue needs to be controlled by the choice of words that do come out. So then, its not mainly about the tongue; its about the words that spring up from the heart of a man. The tongue only functions only when words are ready to come out: Where do words proceed from? It is the heart. The heart is the source and container of words. A man only speaks out of the overflow of his heart. A container cannot overflow with or release out something it is not filled with. It pours out only what has been kept in it and filled with. Mat 12:34b......... For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Mat 12:35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. Pro 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Pro 4:24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Pro 12:14 From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him. All these scriptures point out to the words that do come out of a mans mouth. So then, the focus has to be more on the the heart of the man, which is the source and container of his words. It is very true that no man can tame the tongue. The tongue cannot be tamed when the heart itself has not been tamed. In Jeremiah 17:9, we are told that the heart in its sinful nature, is deceitful; such a heart is never able to follow the ways of God. But in Ezekiel 36:26, God promises that He will give His children a new heart and a new spirit so we can follow His ways. We receive this new heart and new spirit only when we come to Christ Jesus. In Christ Jesus, the filth of our old hearts are washed away as we constantly feed on His word of life and truth, and as we are washed and cleansed in the heart, we are transformed and conformed to the image of His being, as well as our hearts are filled with the knowledge of His will. Through the knowledge of His will, the Holy Spirit by the word, takes over our hearts; and when our hearts are tamed and filled with His word, we are sure that the words we utter will be His words not ours. We are sure that His words are life; they lead us to glory not destruction. The question is, who controls your heart? Until the Holy Spirit takes over your heart and controls it, you can never get your tongue tamed, hence becoming that perfect man. Only the Spirit of God has the ability to tame our tongues after we have allowed Him to affect, transform and tame our hearts. When He takes over our hearts, He automatically takes over the words that fill them. An untamed heart springs out destruction, ruin and death, but a tamed life springs out life. Lets allow the Holy Spirit to tame our hearts, then we will find out that our tongues will be tamed by the way He directs and controls our hearts. We can be the perfect people God wants us to be as we allow His Spirit to take over our hearts, affect our words, and tame our tongues. Let Jesus control that heart, then you can be sure that He will affect the words that flow from your heart, tame your tongue, and make you that prefect being. LET JESUS DO THE CONTROLLING. Prayer: Lord, I thank You for speaking to me this morning. I thank You for Your teachings. Holy Spirit, tame my heart, then I can be sure that my words will be tamed. May every word I speak be a word that speaks life, and may it bring glory to your Holy name. Help me Jesus. Amen. Seasoned DEVOTIONAL
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 12:01:38 +0000
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