How shall we use our tongues?
That was the question posed by
James McGuire in today’s
devotional in “These Days.”
These Days, Daily Devotionals for Living by Faith,
published especially for Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
James 3:10 says,
“From the same mouth comes
a blessing and a curse.
My brothers and sisters,
this ought not to be so.“
Ah, my friends, t’is so true…
we all are a combination
of good and evil!
Capable of great love
and alas, of ugly hate.
Which dog wins?
The one we feed!
James McGuire elaborated on the subject.
“The development of speech was a unique human accomplishment,”
he wrote. “Other creatures communicate by grunts, growls, and touch.
Humans use many languages.”
He went on to ask,
“How shall we use our power of speech?
Shall we bless others, or shall we curse?
What shall we do with our ability to write?”
That last question brought me to my blog.
Here I write with the purposes explained in my heading:
I intend to spread “Love, joy, peace, faith and unity.”
I believe there is too little of each of those in our world.
James McGuire asked,
“What about the ideas that pour forth
through television and videos?”
Here in the USA, this week more than 67 million people
tuned in to the Harris-Trump debate.
Lordy, Lordy, what a fiasco!
What is this world coming to??
James McGuire ended his devotional with this prayer:
“Holy God, forgive us when we misuse our tongues.
Teach us to choose words wisely as we communicate
with each other and the world.”
Like Old Testament proverbs, the Letter of James
offers wise teachings for Christians of every age.
We who write (and speak publicly), teach, and lead
have a particular responsibility for our use of language.
We who read and who listen to public speakers
must be attuned to the Holy Spirit as we read and hear others.
“Moreover,”
James McGuire and James reminded us,
“we must be wise in choosing
what we view on big and little screens.”
Words, words, words!
They are so important!!
A BLESSING OR A CURSE?
Do both come out of your mouth?
“My brothers and sisters, this ought not be so.”
Join me, won’t you?
Let’s try to use our tongues
and our arms
and our lives
to spread
Only Love.
OKAY?
Hugs and Love,
JanBeek
