How is your steering device?

Very powerful verse about what come out of our mouths!

James 3:3-6

3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

Think about the two steering mechanisms mentioned in verse 3 and 4. Both the bit and the rudder and very small in size compared to the horse and the ship. But they are what controls both. It is the same with the tongue. Very small in size compared to the rest of our body but it does great things as says God's word in verse 5. You see our tongue can be used for good or evil. It is our choice. Have you ever noticed this in people. Those who are always negative in word and deed seem to have negative things happen to them all the time? Yet those who are positive in word and deed seem to have positive things happen to them. I don't think this is a coincidence at all. I believe this may be one of the biggest problems in the church today. Many believers are negative and non-believers hear their gripping all the time. Well who in the world wants to be a part of the body of Christ when all they hear is negativity?? Our tongue not only steers us but steers others as well.

Reread the verses for today. God is very clear here that we need to be in control of our tongue because of the damage it can do. Ask your self this morning on how you are doing in controling the tongue. As you can see the consequences are severe!

Tom