“But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.” (8-10)

This verse is convicting every time I read it. My whole body seems difficult to control at times, but when I practice steady discipline I can feel alright about myself. My tongue, however has never been mastered by me. Speaking before thinking, sassy comebacks, witty retorts. I’m pretty clever, and I’ve known a long time I could dismantle a person with my words, but I wish I could say I’ve never done that. 

Deadly poison. It’s way too easy to downplay the consequences of flippant words. 

I like James because he’s incredibly straightforward. There’s no need to twist around, trying to understand what he means or sift through cultural contexts. These are across the board, every place, every moment in time, universally applicable teachings.

What struck you today?

-Bethany