As James, the
“servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ”, continued to
share with his readers about how inflammatory words can be, he
referred to “bits in horses' mouths” and the “small
helm” of “ships” to describe how little items can
turn about large ones. So it is with the tongue, and in chapter three
and verse seven of his letter, James begins to show how “beasts”
can be “tamed”, but not so the tongue where we read:
For every
kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents,
and of
things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed of mankind:
The
verse begins, “For every kind of beasts, and of birds,
and of serpents,...” James
began with the words, “For every kind”
which means “because, even and indeed each, any, all, the whole and
everyone of the sum of the properties and power by which one differs
from others and are distinctive with native peculiarities” “of
beasts” or “animals which
are dangerous, venomous, savage and wild”, “and of
birds” which refers to “flying
and winged birds”, “and of serpents”
which means “creeping reptiles which is used chiefly of snakes”.
James referred to the different creatures for his example of the the
unbridled tongue.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and
of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed of mankind:”
James continued, “and
of things in the sea” which
refers to “marine creatures”, “is tamed”
or “curbed, restrained and brought under control”, “and
has been tamed” or “curbed,
restrained and brought under control” “of mankind”
which refers to “human beings whether male or female”. James
included “sea creatures” in his example of how animals and
created beings are “brought under control” by people.
When
we think through these words of James, we understand how he is
beginning yet another example of the manner in which the “tongue”
causes so much damage. Animals and creatures of all kinds have been
“tamed” by their trainers, and whether they are fierce
lions, killer whales or domestic animals, we marvel at the control
they abide by under their master's commands. Jesus Christ desires for
us to use our “tongues” beneficially, and we are to
“bless” people with them. As we consider the “taming”
of animals, sea creatures and wild beasts, let us allow the Lord
Jesus to “tame” our tongues to be useful in His kingdom.
Next
time James shares
how no one can “tame the
tongue”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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