“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth of great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and sitteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison”  - James 3:5-8

    “THE TONGUE DEFILETH THE WHOLE BODY”

    “THE TONGUE IS SET ON FIRE OF HELL”

    “THE TONGUE CAN NO MAN TAME”

    “THE TONGUE IS AN UNRULY EVIL”

    “THE TONGUE IS FULL OF DEADLY POISON”

    All these horrible things concerning my tongue are from only two verses – James 3:5-8. How many precious friendships have been wasted; how many families divided; how many wars begin; how much blood spilt; how many dear brothers and sisters offended; and how many churches split because of this one small member of my body! How many households have been destroyed by FIRE THAT CAME FROM THE TONGUE? How many poor souls have been injected by DEADLY POISON THAT CAME FROM THE TONGUE? The next time I open my mouth to speak even a potentially hurtful word, or to spread a rumor, or to meddle into someone else’s business, or to seek praise of men, etc., - may God in His mercy let me feel the heat of that devouring fire and the bitterness of that deadly poison – my tongue. Oh, the evil I can commit simply by opening my mouth. Oh, the iniquity I can spread – a world of it – simply by letting my tongue wag. The shame I can bring on myself and mine. The influence I can lose over others – the loss of credibility – what a great loss. The dishonor I can bring on God and His doctrine. All this and untold more simply by opening my mouth. “Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the openings of my lip shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.” (Proverbs 8:6-7). May our Lord so tame our tongues.