It happened at a barbeque on one of southern California’s magnificent beaches when a dear friend of mine who tells VERY LONG stories launched into another tale. As he started, I said: “Strap on your seatbelts and get ready for a long ride.”
Everyone, including my friend, roared in loud and hearty laughter. No problem at this point.
But when he answered a question with one word—“No”—I quickly jumped in with this inappropriate line: “That’s the shortest answer you will ever hear come out of this guy!”
I had stepped over the line. I felt terrible and one of my closest friends was CRUSHED.
How in the world could I have said that after studying the third chapter of James that morning in my quiet time where the Lord admonishes us to be careful with our corrupting tongues?
“The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” James 3:5-6
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you regularly activate God’s Filter and pray for help in moderating what you say BEFORE you say it?
