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Sunday, October 16, 2022

Firestarter


“Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” James 3:5b

We enjoyed having a fireplace that had a gas line running to the log grate. All we had to do was put a little kindling under the logs, light a match or striker, turn the valve on, and voila—a flame shot across the length of the grate! We turned off the gas when the wood ignited and soon had a blazing fire.

Although the tongue is a small part of the body (little member), it has the power to accomplish much for good or evil, to build up or tear down. Words of blessing are encouraging and confidence builders; they bring hope to the hopeless and can turn someone to seek the Lord. But careless or cruelly crafted words can offend, ruin a reputation, turn harmony into chaos, and sometimes drive people away from knowing Jesus as Savior. James says the tongue used wrongfully is a fire from hell, turning the world into turmoil (v. 6). It is an untameable evil and, like a snake’s bite, full of poison (v. 8).

Our tongues don’t need a gas line to start a blazing fire; It only takes one spark from misused words, and once started, no one can stop the fiery results by turning off a valve. The same mouth that praises and honors God one moment can spew slander and lie about someone the next; James says this should not happen (v. 10). But individuals who bridle their tongue (words) are people of integrity and can rule over their whole body (v. 2). 

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