James 3 - What's coming out of your mouth?

DAY 3 DEVOTIONAL

Think about your favorite foods to eat, what is your top five list of things you love to eat.  Spend some time thanking God for the taste of food, the ability to enjoy eating and the variety of foods.  Foods are unique and so are you…ask God to meet with you in a unique special way.

Personal reflection- Take some time to work through the following questions

What is your favorite type of taste (bitter, sweet, salty, spicy or other)?

What tastes do you not like?

Are there things that are hard for you to say no to (not just food)?  (Watching tv, popularity, sports, success, being funny, grades, etc).

How do you maintain control of your life without letting those things control you?

Bible reflection- Use the following passage to help you with the next questions:

James 3:1-12

Is it possible to control the tongue (short term and long term)?  How?

In what ways has your tongue gotten you in trouble?

Is it ok to swear?

We are able to worship God one minute then gossip or curse a few minutes later.  Does this matter? 

Which is easier for you (positive talk or negative talk)?

You can’t have fresh water bitter water together, olives on a fig tree, fresh water in a salty pool (vs. 11-12).  What is James trying to say here?

Andreas Thoughts

There was one summer where I did some restoration work on houses.  Basically we went into homes that had mild flooding (a pipe had burst) or fire damage.  Some people are good with tools…me on the other hand not so much.  My boss often had to come and correct what I was doing, I likely caused him more work in probably did more damage in some cases then good.

I’m not that good with my hands, but my mouth, that’s a whole other thing.  I have found there are times where I have built people up to pursue their dreams and encouraged them in their walk with God.  That same mouth though has also destroyed some people and hurt people dearly.  What I thought was a joke and a few funny words ended up causing people pain that cut them deep.

Wouldn’t it be cool that after every conversation you have with someone they left feeling better about themselves?  Imagine if people left feeling encouraged, loved, heard and as if they matter.  Well that’s my goal and that’s the daily choice I am faced with.  Will I choose to encourage people in who they are letting them know they are a masterpiece or will I just go through my day.  Yesterday we looked at the fact that people are brought into our life by God.  Good deeds to others may mean more then doing a kind deed for someone, sometimes the kind deed or action is to say something.  Who are the people in your life that need to hear God’s love spoken through you today?

Prayer and response-

What kind of taste do you leave others with after they have hung out with you?  Is it desirable or a taste they want to spit out?  Are there some that find the taste pleasant and others that would rather avoid you? 

Ask God to help you see what others hear from you (verbally and through your actions).  God wants your life to lead to a harvest of goodness (vs 18) but that all starts with gaining control of your tongue. 

Today, find 10 people to encourage.  Use different ways to do this…social media  (more then just liking their photo thought), write a note or card, tell them to their face.  Try to find some people that may not expect kind words from you and may be on the margins….your kind words may change their life, and change the direction of your life as well.