   The Bible says, 'A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And...the tongue is a flame of fire' (James 3:5-6 NLT). People living in warmer climates know the danger of ravaging bushfires driven by desert winds and can readily identify with these words: 'See how great a forest a little fire kindles' (James 3:5 NKJV)! A single spark from a match has started many massive fires. Spreading faster and farther than we might ever imagine, that kind of fire destroys homes and businesses worth millions of dollars, leaving a scorched landscape and devastated lives. 

   Similarly, how many reputations have been ruined by a careless word? The impact of our words spreads far and fast, especially in our digital age. A word tweeted anywhere can be retweeted all over the world in seconds. Like a fire, that word can get out of control and do irreparable damage. Hence James wrote: 'No man can tame the tongue' (James 3:8 NKJV). But God can. 'The fruit of the Spirit is...self-control' (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV). 

   The Holy Spirit can take a tongue that peddles gossip and turn it into one that brings glory to God. He can take a tongue that spews bitterness and turn it into one that speaks blessing. Gossip is saying something behind someone's back that you would never say to that person's face. Flattery is saying something to someone's face that you would never say behind the person's back. And both are wrong. So let's join the psalmist in praying: 'May these words of my mouth...be pleasing in your sight, Lord' (Psalm 19:14 NIV).





— SCRIPTURE —

    'The tongue is a flame of fire.' James 3:6 NLT
— SOULFOOD —

    Deut 5-7, Matt 6:19-34, Ps 37:8-15, Pro 11:27-29
    

The Bible says, 'A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And...the tongue is a flame of fire' (James 3:5-6 NLT). People living in warmer climates know the danger of ravaging bushfires driven by desert winds and can readily identify with these words: 'See how great a forest a little fire kindles' (James 3:5 NKJV)! A single spark from a match has started many massive fires. Spreading faster and farther than we might ever imagine, that kind of fire destroys homes and businesses worth millions of dollars, leaving a scorched landscape and devastated lives. Similarly, how many reputations have been ruined by a careless word? The impact of our words spreads far and fast, especially in our digital age. A word tweeted anywhere can be retweeted all over the world in seconds. Like a fire, that word can get out of control and do irreparable damage. Hence James wrote: 'No man can tame the tongue' (James 3:8 NKJV). But God can. 'The fruit of the Spirit is...self-control' (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV). The Holy Spirit can take a tongue that peddles gossip and turn it into one that brings glory to God. He can take a tongue that spews bitterness and turn it into one that speaks blessing. Gossip is saying something behind someone's back that you would never say to that person's face. Flattery is saying something to someone's face that you would never say behind the person's back. And both are wrong. So let's join the psalmist in praying: 'May these words of my mouth...be pleasing in your sight, Lord' (Psalm 19:14 NIV).
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'The tongue is a flame of fire.' James 3:6 NLT 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Deut 5-7, Matt 6:19-34, Ps 37:8-15, Pro 11:27-29

The Word For Today is a daily devotional by authors Bob and Debby Gass. Every day, tens of thousands of people across New Zealand are encouraged and uplifted by its relevant insights.

The daily readings resonate with people as they often speak into their current circumstances. Often readers express wonder at how a particular day’s devotion appeared to be ‘written just for me’

The Word For Today is a daily devotional by authors Bob and Debby Gass. Every day, tens of thousands of people across New Zealand are encouraged and uplifted by its relevant insights.
The daily readings resonate with people as they often speak into their current circumstances. Often readers express wonder at how a particular day&rsquo;s devotion appeared to be &lsquo;written just for me&rsquo;

The Word For Today

A Spirit-controlled tongue (2)

   When you face a crisis it's easy to lose perspective. It happened to two of Jesus' disciples on the Emmaus Road. Discouraged about Jesus' death, they 'were talking to each other about everything that had happened.  While they were talking, Jesus approached them and began walking with them. Although they saw him, they didn't recognise him' (Luke 24:14-16 GWT). When you take your eyes off Jesus, you start to feel helpless about your situation. 

   Dr Michael Youssef says: 'Facing a major crisis, I tend to be the kind of person whose vision becomes blurred. My perceptions are shot. My contemplations are one-sided. I often shut out the very people who can deliver me, just like those two disciples...Their vision was blurred about the person who was walking with them and talking to them. The one whose death they were mourning was alive...but they didn't realise it because their focus was on the wrong thing.' But everything changed the minute they recognised Jesus. 'Within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There...the two...told...how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along...and how they had recognised him as he was breaking the bread' (Luke 24:33-35 NLT). Note the words 'within the hour'. In an instant they went from fear to courage, pain to joy and despair to hope. 

   Paul wrote, 'I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened' (Ephesians 1:18 NIV). When you stop focusing on the problem and fix your eyes on Jesus, you get 20/20 vision and you're filled with hope.





— SCRIPTURE —

    'Although they saw him, they didn't recognise him.' Luke 24:16 GWT
— SOULFOOD —

    Deut 22-24, Matt 9:1-13, Ps 44:9-16, Pro 12:10-11
    

When you face a crisis it's easy to lose perspective. It happened to two of Jesus' disciples on the Emmaus Road. Discouraged about Jesus' death, they 'were talking to each other about everything that had happened. While they were talking, Jesus approached them and began walking with them. Although they saw him, they didn't recognise him' (Luke 24:14-16 GWT). When you take your eyes off Jesus, you start to feel helpless about your situation. Dr Michael Youssef says: 'Facing a major crisis, I tend to be the kind of person whose vision becomes blurred. My perceptions are shot. My contemplations are one-sided. I often shut out the very people who can deliver me, just like those two disciples...Their vision was blurred about the person who was walking with them and talking to them. The one whose death they were mourning was alive...but they didn't realise it because their focus was on the wrong thing.' But everything changed the minute they recognised Jesus. 'Within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There...the two...told...how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along...and how they had recognised him as he was breaking the bread' (Luke 24:33-35 NLT). Note the words 'within the hour'. In an instant they went from fear to courage, pain to joy and despair to hope. Paul wrote, 'I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened' (Ephesians 1:18 NIV). When you stop focusing on the problem and fix your eyes on Jesus, you get 20/20 vision and you're filled with hope.
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'Although they saw him, they didn't recognise him.' Luke 24:16 GWT 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Deut 22-24, Matt 9:1-13, Ps 44:9-16, Pro 12:10-11

Eyes on Jesus

   Satan is called 'the accuser of our brethren' (Revelation 12:10 NKJV) because he tries to remind us of everything we've done wrong. Why? So that all our emotional energy is spent on the past, and we've nothing left over to dream God-sized dreams or fulfil our God-given assignment in life. The irony of his accusations is this: he leaves our unconfessed sins alone. Why wake a sleeping dog? He'd rather you don't deal with unconfessed sin at all. His accusations pinpoint confessed sin - sins that have already been forgiven. That is why they are false accusations; the sins have already been acquitted. 

   Let's make a critical distinction. Condemnation is feeling guilty over confessed sin, whereas conviction is feeling guilty over unconfessed sin. Conviction is the way we get right with God and get on with our lives. Learn to tune in to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit and tune out the condemning voice of the enemy. 

   The Bible says: 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness' (1 John 1:9 NKJV). If we plead innocent, we're guilty as charged. Even Jesus our advocate can't come to our defence. But if we plead guilty as charged, we're found innocent, and we come under God's protective custody. Our record of wrong is completely expunged. And there is no double jeopardy - you cannot be tried twice for the same sin. Once confessed, your sins are forgiven, full stop. The sinless Son of God made sure of this, once and for all (see 1 John 3:5).





— SCRIPTURE —

    'The accuser of our brethren...has been cast down.' Revelation 12:10 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

    Deut 18-21, Matt 8:18-34, Ps 44:1-8, Pro 12:7-9
    

Satan is called 'the accuser of our brethren' (Revelation 12:10 NKJV) because he tries to remind us of everything we've done wrong. Why? So that all our emotional energy is spent on the past, and we've nothing left over to dream God-sized dreams or fulfil our God-given assignment in life. The irony of his accusations is this: he leaves our unconfessed sins alone. Why wake a sleeping dog? He'd rather you don't deal with unconfessed sin at all. His accusations pinpoint confessed sin - sins that have already been forgiven. That is why they are false accusations; the sins have already been acquitted. Let's make a critical distinction. Condemnation is feeling guilty over confessed sin, whereas conviction is feeling guilty over unconfessed sin. Conviction is the way we get right with God and get on with our lives. Learn to tune in to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit and tune out the condemning voice of the enemy. The Bible says: 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness' (1 John 1:9 NKJV). If we plead innocent, we're guilty as charged. Even Jesus our advocate can't come to our defence. But if we plead guilty as charged, we're found innocent, and we come under God's protective custody. Our record of wrong is completely expunged. And there is no double jeopardy - you cannot be tried twice for the same sin. Once confessed, your sins are forgiven, full stop. The sinless Son of God made sure of this, once and for all (see 1 John 3:5).
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'The accuser of our brethren...has been cast down.' Revelation 12:10 NKJV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Deut 18-21, Matt 8:18-34, Ps 44:1-8, Pro 12:7-9

Once and for all

   When Moses sent Caleb to spy out the Promised Land, Caleb saw something that troubled him: the town of Hebron. Abraham buried his wife there. He was buried there. So were Isaac and Jacob. Hebron was a sacred site. Now it was inhabited by their enemies, and it bothered Caleb. It was more than he could take, so he asked Moses for Hebron. He didn't ask for Jerusalem, perched on Mount Moriah; or the Valley of Eschol, where grapes grew as large as plums; or Jericho, where the Jordan River flowed. He wanted Hebron, whose soil had known the visitation of angels and whose earth entombed the holiest family. 'Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb' (Joshua 14:13 NKJV). Caleb wanted to do something great for God. He lived with a higher call. Perhaps the reason your problems feel so great is that your call is too small. 

   Author Max Lucado tells of a doctor friend who makes regular medical trips to a remote jungle clinic to treat the disadvantaged. He's a retired surgeon with ample income. He could spend every day of his life in ease and luxury. But he focuses on supporting the health clinic for his own good: 'I need a cause that is greater than cable TV and Cadillacs,' he said. 'If I focus on my comfort, nothing can satisfy me. But when I focus on the concerns of God, I am a happy man.' 

   Do you have a holy cause? A faith worth preserving? A mission worth living for? Ask God to give you a 'Hebron' to claim for his glory.





— SCRIPTURE —

    'Give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke.' Joshua 14:12 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

    Deut 14-17, Matt 8:1-17, Ps 37:32-40, Pro 12:4-6
    

When Moses sent Caleb to spy out the Promised Land, Caleb saw something that troubled him: the town of Hebron. Abraham buried his wife there. He was buried there. So were Isaac and Jacob. Hebron was a sacred site. Now it was inhabited by their enemies, and it bothered Caleb. It was more than he could take, so he asked Moses for Hebron. He didn't ask for Jerusalem, perched on Mount Moriah; or the Valley of Eschol, where grapes grew as large as plums; or Jericho, where the Jordan River flowed. He wanted Hebron, whose soil had known the visitation of angels and whose earth entombed the holiest family. 'Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb' (Joshua 14:13 NKJV). Caleb wanted to do something great for God. He lived with a higher call. Perhaps the reason your problems feel so great is that your call is too small. Author Max Lucado tells of a doctor friend who makes regular medical trips to a remote jungle clinic to treat the disadvantaged. He's a retired surgeon with ample income. He could spend every day of his life in ease and luxury. But he focuses on supporting the health clinic for his own good: 'I need a cause that is greater than cable TV and Cadillacs,' he said. 'If I focus on my comfort, nothing can satisfy me. But when I focus on the concerns of God, I am a happy man.' Do you have a holy cause? A faith worth preserving? A mission worth living for? Ask God to give you a 'Hebron' to claim for his glory.
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'Give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke.' Joshua 14:12 NKJV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Deut 14-17, Matt 8:1-17, Ps 37:32-40, Pro 12:4-6

A Spirit-controlled tongue (2)

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