It was a convicting moment. Reading good books can do that to you. You’re reading another story, captured by the characters and situations when all of a sudden the author turns the corner and reveals his principle and it hits you square in the face. It’s in moments like those when you realize the person in the story you were judging or condemning is just like you! Well, reading the best story of all time regularly can do that to you. And such an instance recently took place in my life.

I was reading James 3:1-10 where the author is challenging his readers about the power of the tongue. I was caught up in the illustrations of a horse and bridle, ship and rudder, and fire in a forest when James made his point clear. “With it [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:10-11). It was in that moment conviction hit home. My tongue was not only difficult it was possible to tame. And I had recently not been doing well at trying to tame it.

As a fellow struggling tongue tamer, I found this article by Ray Ortland to be very helpful and challenging on the topic of taming our tongues and the effect it can have in our lives, our families, our churches, and our communities. “Your Church Can Be a Gospel Culture” is a short, succinct read in helping one think through how our words actually do affect the culture we live in.

Enjoy the article and as always be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day!