Day 20: Bless
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
–James 3:6-12 (ESV)
James just doesn’t want to let up about my tongue, but he at least gives me credit for sometimes using my tongue to bless. By this I think he means blessing God in prayer, ascribing to Him all purity, holiness and truth. And I suppose what I speak can sometimes also be a blessing to others, like words of appreciation and encouragement. And intercessory prayer.
At least I hope so.
