The house across the street that has sat empty and abandoned for the past ten years is in it's first stages of being remodeled. Since the beginning of Spring and all through the Summer months, one lone Contractor has diligently been working on the exterior of this house. While he works, he plays music from the Christian Radio Station. The sound of music and lyrics praising God all day long can encourage all those in our neighborhood who hear, but then something very discouraging began to occur. Every time this Contractor ran into a snag or a problem, the profanity started: curses, obscenities, colorful metaphors. Whatever you want to call them, the words coming out of this persons mouth is enough to make the average person blush. I was shocked! How can this person play Christian Music all day long and then interrupt it with a vile mouth when things don't go his way?
Then the Lord reminded me of the verses in James Chapter 3:9-10. The Bible says: Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
These verses are written to Believers!
It gave me something to think about: Do I praise God one minute, and then turn around and complain when something doesn't go my way? Yes. I have.
Have I criticized a brother or sister in Christ, who is made in the image of God because I didn't like something they said or did? Yes. I have. To my shame.
Taming our tongue is a minute by minute battle, but if we stop for just a moment before we speak, maybe we won't open our mouths at all.
But that's just me!
Often the way we react to pressure teaches us more about our own hearts than we would ever learn if things always worked out smoothly for us-Unknown
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