Small body part creates large problems - the tongue! James 1:26 (continue)

Good morning all!! God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!
    Okay, ladies and gentlemen, today I am going to meddle in your life a little bit.  Look at James 1:26 and it talks about the tongue.  We will talk some about it today, more tomorrow, and you can go to Johnnybdaily to read more on this topic.

     James 1:26  New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁶ If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 
   In this passage religion (Greek threskeia) deals with worship in the outward sense, a religious service. And an uncontrolled tongue brings forth a spiritual problem.  So what is this saying?  If you do not bridle your tongue - not talking, but viciously talking, gossiping, lying and what does this profit you?  Nothing - it profits you zero, zip, nada, nothing at all, BUT, it will cause damage.
   So, stop and reflect on what mama used to tell us growing up: "if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all."  There is some truth to this.
  Look at  Psalm 34:13-14 New King James Version (NKJV) ¹³ Keep your tongue from evil,

And your lips from speaking deceit. ¹⁴ Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

  Okay, keep you tongue from evil: sins of the tongue have been noted in the Psalms in numerous places.  So what do you think this is telling you?

  First, keep your tongue from evil - this simply means to go away from, leave, depart from evil. Avoid it like the plague.

   Secondly, after departing from evil you should what?   Do GOOD!  After this comes seek peace and pursue it - peace is not a magnet that pulls you in or comes to find you; it is like wool which is woven in the cloth and must constantly work together to maintain the integrity of that cloth.  Weaving a piece of material does not come easy, it takes lots of work, as does peace.

   Peace does not come with no effort.  David explains we are to work hard at peace.  Paul parroted  this thought in Romans 12:18.  A person who wants peace cannot be argumentative and contentious.  Peaceful relationships come from our efforts at peacemaking, work hard at living in peace with others each day.

In Christ's Love and Grace
   Johnny