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Watch your mouth! In His Word 6-15-2025
As a teacher of the Word we have a high standard of living
to uphold. I have to tell you I have failed to teach properly more than once. I
have placed ‘Teresa’s idea of the meaning of a verse’ in place of the actual
verse. Now, there is obviously a place
for, while teaching it as an actual scripture is not it! I made the mistake of forgetting to put the actual
verse and kept the paraphrase when transferring y thought notes to a memory
verse list! As a teacher we can become very helpful and educating others on the
Word of God is a really big honor, but we have to be sure we are teaching it
correctly or it is without merit! The student just may surpass the teacher at
times but you really do not feel more humble than when a youngster tells you that
the verse you gave them did not exist and they searched the whole Bible!
James 3 gives us a heads up on this. Then it goes on to watch what we say because our mouths are powerful things. We need to watch what we say because we can encourage or we can discourage someone from learning from the Word of God, in which case they may not come to know their purpose in His Word either! We need to do our due diligence and study to show ourselves approved by God.
This is what James says about it.
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers
because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble
in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to
keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to
make them obey us we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example.
Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds they are steered by a
very small rudder. Wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a
small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Create what a great forest
is set on fire by a small spark.
The tongue is also a fire a world of evil among the parts of
the body. It corrupts the whole body,
sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
James 3:1-6
This portion of the chapter is very commonly used but lets
read on to the other bits!
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. With the Tongue we praise our
Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s
likeness Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.
My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh
water, and saltwater flow from the same spring? James 3:7-11
We need to start with the Holy Spirit to tame our tongues. In other words, we cannot always keep from speaking what is in our hearts. When we just talk off the hip as the saying goes, we can accidently slip into worldly talk instead of keeping on the subject. We can easily turn someone from following the Lord because they think we are dishonest too if we are not teaching the truth.
That is true wisdom, and good teaching! When we seek God for
direction in our teaching we must follow His lead not veer off because we think
people will like it better if we curve the truth!
We need to become wise.
In order to teach the Word, we have to know the Word, in order to know the Word we have to read the Word. Then we can walk our our lives In His Word.
We know the wisdom from above is pure, and because of this
we must study the Word of God to find out the truth of a matter.
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by
living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from
wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your
heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and
selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual,
and demonic. For wherever there is
jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every
kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving,
gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and
the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds
of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:12-18
So as a teacher we need to watch our mouths, be humble, and
teach the truth with the help of the Holy Spirit. Which all makes sense because
the Spirit is what brings the truth out in His Word.
So lets keep reading, lets keep seeking God, read the commentaries, the interlinear
studies but know what it is that you are teaching.
Be blessed today as you read through, and study the Book of
James, chapter 3 written questions will come out tomorrow.
Trust in the Word, in Jesus name, amen!