“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” – James 1:26
This is a sobering word from the Lord that every follower of Jesus should reflect on VERY carefully. If you think you’re a very faithful Christian but what flows out of your mouth, pen, keyboard, or phone is vile, vicious, cruel, shameful, hurtful, or otherwise out of control at times, you have a spiritual problem! Not a behavioral problem, a spiritual problem. James warns that you may not be nearly so close to Jesus as you imagine!
It’s not that our words can save us (or cause us to lose our salvation). It’s that our words reflect our true spiritual situation. Have we actually been born again as a new creation in Christ? A follower of Jesus must carefully, prayerfully control what he or she says. Out loud. In email. By text. Over social media. Jesus was very clear that what flows out of your mouth, pen, keyboard, and phone reflects the actual condition of your heart. As a follower of Jesus, take this warning seriously. If the Holy Spirit is speaking to you right now, don’t ignore Him. And certainly DO NOT try to excuse yourself by claiming that’s just how you are!
Consider what you say (in all the ways you can say things) when you’re angry, lonely, upset, disappointed, embarrassed, frustrated, or exhausted. Does it glorify God or does it tear people made in His image to bits? Does it glorify God or glorify yourself? Does it breathe life into people or reek of death? Commit to control your tongue in the power of the Holy Spirit and #FollowJesus