A WORD IN PASSING - January 2023
Many are the traditions associated with the new year, and one still very much in vogue is the tradition of making new year
resolutions. I wonder if you've made any? Whether or not you have, I believe there is one particular aspect of our day to day
lives that we could all pay a lot more attention to. And that is the control of our tongue. The writers of Scripture were well aware
of its dangers. Even in the first decades of the early Church followers of Jesus were having to be warned of the need to control
their tongues,
‘... a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts, ... a fire, ... a restless evil, full of deadly poison’ James 3: 5,8
We'll all be aware of the need for it to be tamed, for ‘A sharp tongue can be a deadly weapon,’ and ‘If your foot slips, you can
recover your balance – if your tongue slips, you cannot recall your words.’ We’ve all experienced that, both as offenders and
as the offended.
As James pleads with his readers so let’s hear that same Spirit plead with us, ‘My brothers/sisters this should not be.’ v.10
How can we, as Christians, as those who say we follow the Lord Jesus, allow our tongue to be an instrument of negativity, spite
or gossip, disparaging others, shaming ourself, when they like us are made in the image of God! When they like us are loved by a
God who sent His Son to save us!
Let us control our tongues and use them wisely and well, seeking this New Year more than ever to employ our tongues
wherever and whenever we are able in the Lord’s service; in prayer, speaking, ‘... to one another with psalms, hymns and
spiritual songs’ Ephesians 5:19, exercising a gift of encouragement, a word of wisdom, and perhaps at times even a loving word
of censure.
And, of course,
‘Always being prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have ...
with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience,’ 1 Peter 3:15-16
People will not ask about that 'hope' if your life is seen to be no different from anyone else. And people will not ask if they know
you to be a person as likely to ‘curse’ as to ‘praise’ (James 3:10), to slander as to extol. So, if Christ does live in you, if you have
submitted your life to Him as Lord, be sure you don’t live as if your tongue is exempt.
Graham Pulham