Thoughts for another day

January 13, 2012

Today's verse: Jas. 1:26. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Among some of the sins I harbor and am struggling to avoid, is the above.  A sin I don't really know how I fall into nor do many who commit it.  Let's face it, most of us are mature Christians (or at least we call ourselves mature) and this sin doesn't benefit us a bit, and I've realized that my impulse to talk, whether needed or not, whether it fits the conversation or not or whether I should even talk about the subject or not, forces me to talk and that's the wrong I do.  Checking one's impulses is vital if we're not to commit this sin, even if we think with all our being that we must say our two bits.

Sometimes I wonder why I talk unnecessarily, particularly because I consider myself religious and many people know me as a man who lives within the bounds of God, yet, this sin.  It's embarrassing indeed for when I stand before God with this kind of sin, I'm at a loss at what to say.  The only thing I can say is that it satisfies my desire to put my imprint on the group or individual I'm in discussion  with and this even when I realize that the Bible says, When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise, Pro. 10:19, NIV and Jesus says very clearly, 'But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.' Mt. 12:26,27, NIV.  So, it's frightening to have futile talk and we must learn to rein in our tongues as James says.

With the Grace God sends us, I believe our words will become few and I've decided that the words that come out of my mouth must be to bless or exalt God; and with men it must be to administer good and therefore like the psalmist I must pray, 'May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14 (NIV)  I pray that like me, you too, if you're guilty of this sin, will realize the wrong you do and correct yourself before it's too late.