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Spiritual MOT: Lights, tyres & exhaust
Do my words release life, grace and encouragement?
James 3:1-12
Proper use of your tongue1My dear brothers and sisters, not many of you will aspire to be teachers of God's Word if you realise that we who have been given the responsibility to teach will be judged more strictly than other believers.2All of us fail in many ways. For if anyone claims he is never wrong in what he says, then he must be perfect, with complete control over every aspect of his body, especially his tongue.3We place bits in the mouths of horses so we can control them, making them obey us by turning in any direction we choose.4Or think of how a ship is guided. It can be very large and driven by strong winds; yet the pilot uses only a tiny rudder to steer the ship in whatever direction he chooses.5In the same way, the tongue is only a tiny part of your body, but it can do great harm. A forest fire can be started by a small spark!6And the tongue is like fire, for it can give rise to such evil that it is able to corrupt your whole life. It can ruin the whole course of your life when it is set on fire by the fire of hell.7-8Man has tamed a variety of animals, birds, reptiles and sea mammals; but no one has ever succeeded in taming the tongue. It can be an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison.9We use the tongue to praise our Lord and Father and yet we can also use it to speak curses over people whom God has made in His image.10So out of the same mouth comes both praise and curse. My brothers, obviously this should not be the case.11How can fresh water and salt water flow out of the same spring?12My friends, is it possible for a fig tree to produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Well, it is impossible for a salt spring to produce fresh water.
Ephesians 4:29-32
29Do not speak in an impure or critical way. Instead of mouthing unclean or negative things, speak in a way that will encourage and benefit others because you are addressing their needs.30And do not grieve God's Holy Spirit in any way. Remember you have had the seal of the Spirit placed on you to keep you walking in God's ways until the day when He takes you to be with Himself.31Rid yourselves of every negative thing, being bitter in your attitudes, being angry and resentful. Do not get into disputes with others, especially physical ones! Do not slander others or have any malicious attitudes towards them.32Instead be kind and compassionate to one another, always ready to forgive in the same way that, through Christ, God has always been willing to forgive you!
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