20240202

should not be

James 3:9-12 (JDV)

James 3:9 With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness.
James 3:10 Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.
James 3:11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?
James 3:12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.

should not be

I’m glad Brother James included himself here. If one thing bothers me after being in Christ for over 50 years it is the fact that I keep failing him. My mouth may not often voice the curse, but it’s there sometimes on the tip of my tongue. And this is something that should not be. I belong to Jesus. His thoughts should flow from my brain; his words from my tongue. The world should be blessed by me, not cursed.

Yet it would be worse if I did not feel this way — if I carelessly let my bitter words fly. I am determined to allow the Holy Spirit in all the rooms of my house. He still has some cleaning to do.