Morning Moments

JAMES Devotional Outline

Chapter 3

III. WHOLESOME WORDS 3:1-18
A. Guarded Words 3:1-2
B. Guided Words 3:3-4
C. Godless Words 3:5-12

Godless Words

3:5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7. 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: 8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Obviously godless words come from a godless heart. Change the heart and the words will change for "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." The very fact that these words come from hell is proof enough that they are offensive to God, but we must understand that the words themselves may be acceptable to society.

I never dreamed I would ever hear some of the words heard publicly from those representing the people of the United States in Congress, but it is becoming less and less shameful and more and more acceptable in our society without any respect for anyone listening or watching. In all of our political correctness of not wishing to offend, we have opened the door to some of the most obscene and offensive language known to man - gutter talk that fills movies, main street, and marketplace and it should be CLEANED UP!

1. Unacceptable 3:5-6
a. Are Deceptive - "boasts" - which centers around pride.
b. Are Disruptive - "kindleth" - which constantly stirs up matters.
c. Are Defiling - "defileth" - which makes everything corrupt and unclean.
d. Are Destructive - "fire of hell" - comes from the devil himself.

2. Uncontrollable 3:7-8
a. No Bits - no way to guide.
b. No Bridles - no way to lead.
c. No Boxes - no way to contain.
d. No Boundaries - no way to prevent.

3.Undeniable 3:9-12
a. Blessing and cursing - completely inconsistent.
b. Sweet water and bitter - completely incomprehensible.
c. Fig tree and olive berries, vine and figs - completely impossible.
d. Salt water and fresh - completely inseparable.

BLESSINGS!