October 28
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LIFE AND DEATH IN THE TONGUE
A poem by ILMA
Be careful what comes out of your mouth for the tongue is evil
It may utter praise and good things, but it can be a tool of the devil
What we say can be used to encourage someone immensely
But it can also be used to destroy or discourage someone intentionally.
We may tame all kinds of animals but no one can tame the tongue
It is like a rudder that directs a huge ship to go where it wants to go
The tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches and spread out
It is a tiny spark that can set a great forest on fire and have it destroyed.
The tongue is restless and evil, full of deadly poison
Sometimes it praises and worship the heavenly Father
Other times it curses those made in God’s image
So, blessing and cursing can come out of the same mouth.
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MEMORY VERSE
No one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
– James 3:8
Read: James 3:1-12
The book of James certainly stresses the importance of recognizing how evil our tongues are. It can bring life or death to someone. As this book says, it is not possible to tame it as it is evil. Some hypocrites may want to claim that they have never sinned with their tongues, but according to this book, it is inevitable for us to escape the wickedness that is in the tongue. Hence, the bible tells us time and time again to guard our mouth.
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REFLECTION
• If we can’t tame the tongue, how can we gain control over it instead of it controlling our lives?
• What is the antidote to negative thinking and speaking?
• Share any experience you had about the evil and good of the tongue?