Daily Devotional #1,600

I recently heard that in the United States of America, you have a right to remain silent. But few people have the ability. How often have you said something and immediately knew that you should have just kept quiet? If you are like me, it has happened more than once...a lot more! In the Letter of James, in the New Testament, he talks about the danger of our tongues being out of control four different times. He says that if we don’t control our tongues, we are fooling ourselves and our religion is worthless. And then he says that the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches...but a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And he really goes for it when he says that among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a who world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. And that it can set your entire life on fire. Finally, he says that no one can tame the tongue...it is restless and evil and full of deadly poison. That tongue is a dangerous thing. It can delight or destroy people’s hearts and souls. But James is telling us how hard it is to simply be silent. How do we control that tongue and choose to be silent and do no harm? Well, we can’t...at least not by ourselves. But the Apostle Paul reminds us that what we cannot do, this Jesus of the Bible can do for us. We can do everything though Christ who gives you and me strength. Even the strength to sometimes remain silent. So, when you feel that
urge to say something that you ought not to...remember that you can’t rely on your own strength, but you can depend on this Jesus who will give you strength to do the loving and kind thing. Call on this Jesus...and be quiet.

Here’s our Bible verse for today...

Philippians 4:13 NLT For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ