James 3 | Lesson 7

We need to be careful when we want to become teachers and desire to tell others what to do. We can take the Lord’s name in vain if we speak it in the wrong way. The reason why we have trouble with our mouths is that we have trouble with our hearts. The tongue cannot be tamed by any man. We need to repent, particularly when we find that there are things that God’s word tells us that we cannot do. We must not do or say whatever comes naturally. Self-control is something that does not come. Naturally, it is something we must grow in. We must die to ourselves. When stuff comes up that should not be, we must die to self and yield ourselves to God. The more people we teach and reach the more accountable we will be. We will answer to God for everything we say; we need to be very careful. Words have enormous potential to change the way we think. We need to be careful what we listen to because it will eventually come out and what comes out will dramatically change what goes on around us. We need to speak healing, helpful, honest, sincere, and peaceful things. Our words have enormous power, and we need the Holy Spirit to teach us how to speak in truth and love. If we want to stop saying bad things we need to replace our words with good things. Sometimes we just need to keep our mouths quiet.