My Tongue

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. James 3:2 (ESV)

James says some really hard things in his letter. None hits me where it hurts like chapter 3. My tongue has certainly caused me to stumble…more like fall flat on my face…on more than one occasion.  It easy to see that I’m not the perfect man James is speaking of. I’ve got quite a ways to go to achieve the high bar of perfection.

The Bible does tell of this perfect man James attains to, Jesus. He’s the only man in history that always said the right thing at the right time. Sometimes kind words, others biting; sometimes encouragement and sometimes rebuke. All through his life the Pharisees are asking him questions trying to trip him up with his words but they never succeeded. At his “trial” the council was unable to produce witnesses that could agree on anything he had said that could be used against him. Even in the midst of the horrible agony and humiliation of the cross his words are not, Father destroy them for their wickedness, but rather “forgive them because they have no idea what they’re doing.” That’s a Gospel wow moment!

 I’m sure I’ll trip over my tongue again in the future. James reminds me that Jesus is my example and the ideal and in regard to my tongue I should keep striving to be more like him.