“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” – James 3:7-8
It’s one thing to not notice a stop sign and mistakenly drive right on through the intersection without breaking. I think most of us have been guilty of not paying close enough attention while driving at some point. But it’s another thing to notice the stop sign, and yet completely ignore it like it’s not even there.
This is a good illustration regarding my speech. There are times when the words come out without even thinking beforehand. But there are instances when I know that what I’m about to say is so wrong that it has every reason to cause someone to think that I have no clue who Jesus is.
And most all of those times it happens intentionally is when I’m around people who don’t know Jesus themselves.
This chameleon-effect is very real for some Christians. We can easily blend in with whatever environment we’re around. And the interesting thing about a chameleon is that its tongue is generally longer than its entire body. When chameleons see their prey (normally insects of some sort) their tongues instantly become their “super power.” They can project their tongues to reach their prey in .07 seconds, or faster than humans can blink their eyes.
James reminds us Christians that our tongues are restless, too. Except unlike the chameleon, ours are full of deadly poison. And although our poison may not reach the ears of those we’re talking to in the blink of an eye, it can be incredibly toxic.
Friend, as tempting as it might be for us to blend in with the crowd sometimes, God doesn’t want us to be camouflage. He wants us to stand out in the world, to not blend in and fit in with the world. What comes out of our mouths is a direct reflection of what is in our hearts. And this also includes the absence of pride, arrogance, and boasting.
Does our speech reflect the love and humility of Christ in our hearts?
Former Blackout Artist 