Curses!

Hello, gentle readers...

I have placed a link to an article on The Epistle, (http://epistle.us/articles/sticksstones.html) a webzine which I frequently read. It was written by Edrick and I know you will be as touched by it as I was.

Along that theme, I have been considering the idea of curses. In James, the writer talks about how blessings and cursings shouldn't come from the same tongue. In other words, how can we bless God at one moment and curse his creation at another? The writer in James 3 gives a number of examples; fresh and brackish water from the same stream, a fig tree bearing olives, or a grapevine bearing figs. We have been taught that one reaps what one sows. Galatians 6:7 says this plainly.

We cannot bless God and then curse his creation.

Let's look at James 3 together. "(5) Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts...(6) The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell...(8) but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison..(9) With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in God's likeness. (10) Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing. My brothers this should not be."

Why does the writer use the phrase, "set on fire?" It is there to emphasize the incredible power we have simply by speaking, to bring destruction to our lives and the lives of those around us. Consider Ephesians 1:19 where the writer says that we have the same power living in us that raised Jesus from the dead! And not only is there the power that raised Jesus from the dead, but the same power that lifted Jesus up to his place of authority and dominion over all creation! It would stand to reason then, if we have that power living within us, the words we speak will also have great power.

Consider this: You're driving along and you have a christian CD on or the local christian radio station. You are praising God and singing with the tunes. It's a good day, right? Now a driver pulls in front of you causing you to slam on your brakes. You screech to a halt just before you plow into him. What are you saying and thinking now? Are you still praising God? Or are you cursing the driver who almost caused you to wreck your vehicle?

Out of the same mouth come blessings and cursings. God says that's not the way it's supposed to be. Have you done it? I have. Immediately I am convicted of it, too. Thankfully, there is the sacrifice of Jesus and the grace of God to bring immediate forgiveness and healing from my shame. But we all do it...praise God and then curse His creation. (Ephesians 1:19)

I would challenge you today to keep a watch on what you say. Are you cursing God's creation or are you blessing both God and His creation? It's a moment by moment vigil to keep ourselves obedient. Every morning let's begin our day with a prayer that we will glorify God and edify our earthly brothers and sisters with what we say...and not curse them by our negative, hurtful, harmful comments.

May God richly bless you this day!
CLG-B