Morning Moments

JAMES Devotional Outline

Chapter 3

III. Wholesome Words 3:1-30

A. Guarded Words

3:1. My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

The Scripture teaches us that we are to keep or guard our hearts with all diligence for out of the heart come the issues of life and what is spoken is an indication of what is in the heart.

For so many years I crammed my head with knowledge. I have always had a quest for knowledge, especially for the knowledge of the Word of God, but that quest has change a bit as I have aged and I pray it will for every young preacher who may read these words. My quest now is for knowing God, not about Him and not merely about the Scriptures, but knowing Him as Paul said, "becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him through the fellowship of His suffering and the power outflowing from His resurrection."

I met a beautiful young lady 45 years ago, soon after fell in love with her, asked her to marry me and for the last 44 years I have become more deeply and intimately acquainted with her through glad times and sad, good times and bad, sickness and heath, richer and poorer, babies, teenagers, you name it. We are closer than we have ever been and still have a way to go.

That's how it is with gaining the knowledge of guarded words. The closer I get to my wife the more careful I am not to say things that might hurt her in any way. The closer we draw to the Lord the more careful we are about how we speak, what we say, to whom we say it, where, when, and how it is said.

Guarded words are a pretty good indication of a guarded heart. Whether we are teaching, preaching, sharing, we must be careful to bring every though "captive unto the obedience of Christ" so that words spoken are pure and true and trustworthy.

The word "masters" in the text is used for those who have the responsibility of teaching and the judgment for those that teach is much more severe than those who are pupils. I teach the people I pastor that just because I may look at you when I am saying something doesn't mean what I am saying is directed to you. In fact, I may look at you for the purpose of directing it to someone else. I have heard folks say, "The preacher looked right at me when he said that." I want to say, "Well, do you want him to look at the floor or the ceiling, or the walls?" He has to look somewhere. If the shoe fits, wear it but if it doesn't don't take offense. Most of the time the preacher/teacher has no clue what you are personally going through anyway.

The point of the text is that although we all offend at times, we must be very careful not to do it intentionally but guarding our hearts and our tongues.

BLESSINGS!