James 3:10-12 Bless With Your Words
One day studying for a diploma at a local community college and while the class was in the hall, a police officer took his german shepherd service dog to the water fountain and helped his partner get a drink of water. I personally saw nothing wrong with it, but I heard some of my classmates say, “That’s nasty.” Even if we know the famous saying, “You dirty dog,” the Bible passage before James 3:10-12, say animals can be tamed by man, but mankind cannot tame a wild tongue. The letter of James wants to tell his brothers and sister in Christ, let your words be like fresh water and like fresh fruit. Now you and I when we want a drink of water, we don’t want salt water, the human body can drink or swallow salt with, it is just too bitter and nasty. Now one likes to turn on the water faucet and get mud or dirty water out, that is just too foul and nasty to drink or cook with. Same as buying some produce like some fresh fruit, figs, they don’t want olives as some substitute or they don’t want rotten old fruit that has attached fruit flies, that would be nasty also. A water fountain has filters and will keep water clean and cool, that will taste nice for a thirsty tongue. A Christian words should not be bitter, foul, nasty, full of slander or insults. Our words should like Jesus talking, with words full of love, encouragement, support, and just comforting one another. If our words do not sound like Christ, speaking then we will give the gospel a bad taste. Jesus tells Him to be the salt and light of the world, our action gives light to God’s word if done in the correct way. Our words, if they sound like Jesus’ words, are seasoning our action. If the words that roll off our tongues and the action of our faith don’t reflect God’s glory or love, then we have tasteless, flavorless words. Dear brothers and sisters, let’s glorify God to others with words of love and kindness, to lift others up and not tear people down. God bless you all, the Lord loves you all, and so do I. Samuel H