A Tongue that is Blistering Hot can Scar or Light the World on Fire for God!

The personal question for Day 4 was "When was the lst time you were aware of the tongue's capacity to blister and scar?

Have you ever been so sunburned that you have blistered? When I lived in south Florida as a young girl, we spent every day in the sun either by a pool or at the beach. Sometimes we overdid it and got sunburned. When we did, we went to the front yard and cut off a piece of an aloe plant, cut it open, and put the liquid on our skin. It helped take the pain away from the burn. If a friend was from out of town and was not used to the sun, the burn was blistered and the aloe didn't help alot - and there would probably be some scarring.

It used to be said "sticks and stones can break your bones but words can never hurt you." How wrong was that saying! Words can be blistering! Words can be Scarring.

A few years ago, while team teaching 5th grade, we gave our students small tubes of toothpaste and paper plates. We had them squirt all of the toothpaste out on the plates, then we told them to try and put all of the toothpast back in the tube - very soon they realized they couldn't do it. We tied this concept into the words that come out of our mouths. When we quickly say something out of anger, or rush to conclusions, make rash judgements, or many other situations, we can't take the comments back. Our tongues can be blistering. Our tongues can be scarring.

We can look back at James 1:19-20 and be reminded be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. We need to use our tongues to praise God, to be a light in the community that we are called to serve, and to spread the Gospel of Christ. Our tongues can bring comfort.

Where are you? Do you find yourself lighting the world on fire for God as you spread the Gospel of Christ? Or, do you find yourself trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube? How have you overcome some of the struggles with your tongue? I'm sure we could all use some examples here!

Teachers - are you called?

Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment James 3:1 With this were you asking yourself why would I ever want to be a teacher? Or did you look at this with the idea of...Ok then, I had better be prepared that I will stumble and I had better be seeking God's face and be hungering for God's word more than ever?

Too often I think we look at things with a negative view. Instead, we need to stand on the truth of God's word, be aware of the accountability we have as teachers, and definitely keep our motives in check if you are called!

Is James Direct?

What do you think about people that are direct? Are you direct? Do you tend to beat around the bush when you have something to say or do you just jump in with both feet and say what needs to be said? I think James is direct!

Is he different than Jesus? Does he have the same message? Does he get the message across? Are you getting the message?

I hope you are enjoying this study as much as I am enjoying it! Can't wait to see you tomorrow night!