Philip Dampier's Blog

Chapter 3, Verses 7-8 “For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

At some point in history, domestication of the animal world has been attempted and eventually all have been brought under the control of mankind. Man can tame everything but himself. Pogo, the cartoon opossum of years gone, by had it right. He said frequently in his strip, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Must have read James. There is a reason that we coined the phrase, “My bad.” James tells us that a lot of our troubles stem from our inability to control our own mouth.

Since we can’t tame it, should we surrender to it. Is it okay to join Flip Wilson and say, “The devil (tongue) made me do it?” It, (the tongue) is restless evil personified. It can’t be still, and it doesn’t pause or take time out. Like a roaring lion, it too seeks its prey. The tongue is full of poison. Poison is deadly. It causes harm beyond the scope of science and medicine. The hurt from sticks and stones can be healed, but often the hurt from words cannot.

Task for Today: While you are thinking about it, is there someone you have hurt with words? Not too late to make it right. If you can’t control the spill, can you control the clean up? Maybe with God’s help you can control the spill. He has tremendous grace to share if we ask for it. Your wisdom will probably fail but God’s will prevail. Ask for it.