Last night we were discussing James 3 v 8 in our bible study, talking about points raised in my message from Sunday.
This verse can sound a bit fatalistic, talking about never being about to tame the tongue.
If it cannot be tamed how can we change what we say and turn around the direction of our lives as I suggested in my sermon?
As we were speaking about the verse I got a picture of a lion tamer and I think this is a good picture to help explain this verse.
In a cage a lion tamer can train a lion to do certain tricks, to change its behaviour; but what he can never do is truly tame it.
While in control of the lion, say facing it with a whip in his hand, the lion will do what it has been trained to do.
However if the lion tamer turns his back and ignores the lion it will revert to type i.e. it will attack, as it is still truly wild.
Our tongue in this sense can never be tamed, however through training, or mind renewal, it can be controlled and trained in certain areas.
As we renew our mind to the truth in our born again spirit, our flesh (and tongue included) has to come into line.
It however can never be redeemed; it will never be tamed.
If our mind is renewed in a certain area of our life we will talk streams of sweet water, however if we are not renewed in that area we will sound biter (James 3 v 11).
We know that death and life are in the power of the tongue, so we can “train” our tongue to speak good things, however we can never “tame” it fully so it will have the capacity to speak bad things unless we renew our mind.
Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that you have given me your Word in order for me to renew my mind, so that I can speak good things over my life”.
James 3 v 8…..But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison
Heilan Word Ministries 