Horses are huge, yet we expect to hop on and give orders. How? How can we control this force of nature? Most of us take it for granted, forgetting the power beneath us. When the majestic beast drags us under a low-hanging limb, or crow-hops to drop us, we get angry don’t we—as if bossing this massive animal is normal.
At our house we have ridden horses with bridles and without—and it makes a difference! The bridle connects to the bit in the horse’s mouth—and the bit gets his attention. A dog leash clipped to a halter is not the same thing! For a willful horse, a tug at the halter means little. To truly control a horse, you MUST have a bit and a bridle.
James uses this image as an analogy for controlling the tongue:
“Now when we put a bit into a horse’s mouth we are able to control his whole body…. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man, able to control his whole body as well…. BUT THE TONGUE IS A FIRE, THE VERY WORLD OF INIQUITY, IT IS SET AMONG OUR MEMBERS AS THAT WHICH DEFILES THE ENTIRE BODY, SETS ON FIRE THE COURSE OF OUR LIVES, AND IS SET ON FIRE BY HELL…. No man can tame the tongue, it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in the likeness of God” James 3:3-10.
My dad used to tell me, “Steven, you’re a good kid, but your mouth’s gonna’ get you into a lot of trouble.” He was right: the tongue is HARD!
And GET THIS: “Let not many of you become teachers, for teachers incur a stricter judgment” James 3:1. As full-time talkers, GOD HOLDS TEACHERS TO A HIGHER STANDARD. Are you ready for that? Finally:
“If anyone thinks himself devout, but does not bridle his tongue, his devotion is worthless” James 1:26. (WOW!)
God, teach us to honor You with our words.
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