Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
In our journey of faith, one of the most profound challenges we face is mastering the use of our tongues. The words we speak have the power to build up or tear down, to bless or to curse. Today, I feel led to address an area that is crucial to our spiritual walk and integrity: the importance of guarding our speech.
The scripture is clear in its directive: “You must not talk dirty.” This isn’t merely about avoiding profanity or vulgar language; it’s about aligning our entire manner of conversation with the holiness of God. James 1:26 warns us that if anyone seems to be religious but does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his own heart, and his religion is in vain. What a sobering thought! Our speech can be the very evidence of our faith’s authenticity or its absence.
Religion, in its purest form as described in James 1:27, is to live piously, morally, and devoutly, manifesting in actions such as caring for the fatherless and widows and keeping oneself unspotted from the world. Yet, all these outward signs of faith are rendered meaningless if we fail to restrain our tongues. This failure indicates a deeper issue—a heart not fully surrendered to God’s transformative work.
The Bible does not shy away from this topic. 1 Peter 1:15-16 calls us to be holy in all our behavior because God is holy. Ephesians 4:29-32 goes further, instructing us to let no corrupt communication proceed from our mouths but only that which is good for edifying, that it may impart grace to the hearers. It’s a call to replace bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking with kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness, reflecting God’s forgiveness towards us in Christ.
James 3 paints a vivid picture of the tongue’s power and our inability to tame it through human effort alone. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison, capable of blessing God and cursing men made in God’s likeness. This duality, like a fountain producing both sweet and bitter water, is unnatural and condemned. Our words and actions must consistently reflect the wisdom and knowledge of God, demonstrating our faith through a holy conversation.
Luke 4:4 reminds us that we do not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Our speech, then, should be a reflection of God’s word, nourishing and life-giving.
As we reflect on these truths, let us ask ourselves: Is our religion in vain? Are our words and actions aligned with the holiness to which we are called?
This is not a message of condemnation but of hope and invitation. Through the Holy Spirit’s power, we can bring our tongues and, indeed, our whole selves under God’s gracious control. Let us seek His strength to live out our faith authentically, bearing fruit that befits repentance and a heart transformed by His love.
Be blessed, my brothers and sisters, as we strive to honor God with our words and our lives.
In His service,
Pastor Coney Woodman
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