*In my post from last night I mentioned the verse about anything not coming from faith, being sin. I don't think I connected it very well into our reading for yesterday like I meant to!
Anyway, the line I drew between the two different areas of Scripture is this: That although we may not be using our tongue to gossip, or disrespect, or directly hurt a person or situation...while we may just be having ordinary conversations, harmless on the surface, it's important to realize that if our motive - our heart - is coming from a place without faith, then our tongues are being used wrongfully. All our speech should be motivated by love and constructive, edifying outcomes, by faith. If it isn't at any point, we should keep quiet, because the likelihood is great of our selfish, sinful side looking to rear it's head. Sometimes is subtle, so I'm praying all the more for God to give me a deep discretion, a careful mouth that opens for the good, and loving purposes.
(I hope that describes better what I meant to say last night!)*
Yet, this all ties into today's reading also. Overall, James seems to be really driving home the point that our speech can be utterly disastrous and used in a multitude of evil ways. This motivates me to watch my tongue, to be sure, ...and I don't know about you girls, but it also numbs me in a way because I realize my fallenness in this area all the more - I am a woman that loves to talk and I usually have so much energy that helps the words come out more than easily sometimes! :/ Past conversations, little phrases that slipped out unheeded, little sighs or mutterings so easily forgotten - they all pile high in my heart and make me wonder how I'll ever come close to using my speech in a godly way? It's easy to let despair and hopelessness come over us when we see the reality of the garbage in our lives, around us, in our own hearts.
That is why I must pray "Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a steadfast spirit within me", daily...hourly. I need his forgiveness to cover me and I need his strength to go forward each day, because I'm weak and I give up on my own!
Christ has already nailed that garbage pile to the cross, so I have joy.
I pray he works through me and through each of you to strengthen you to live with speech all crystalline and godly-beautiful, and that he wraps us up with his grace and comfort when we fail and the ugly creeps up.
He is so good, isn't he?!
Love you girls,
~Cait
*James 3:5-6
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Caitlin, thanks for the reminder that anything that comes out of our mouths should have some kind of benefit to the hearers. It really is our hearts coming forth in speech. I long to be refreshing, economical, and full of grace and wisdom in speech--to be wise and loving at heart. Thanks for your encouragement that God uses us despite our failings and will continue to purify our hearts! Love you.
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