Proverbs 17: 9 He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends.
James 3: 3 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
While I was studying the Bible this morning, these verses came glaring out; and I wanted to say to God. Maybe another day, God; because, I haven’t mastered this yet. How can I tell others; if this is an area where I have so often failed. Perhaps that is the reason, I must address this before I can move on. Deep rooted in every sin and therefore also in the sins of the tongue are a combination of a lack of faith and pride. I remember a sermon recently by Charles Stanley that was called unloading your baggage. I recommend highly that you listen to it ( http://intouch.org/broadcast/video-archives/content.aspx?topic=Unloading_Your_Baggage_video#.USSubh2siSo ). He was preaching from Hebrews 12: 1-3 and that to run this race as a Christian we must lay aside our Baggage. He listed types of baggage and asked if the listener could identify which baggage they were carrying, as though it were only one. I looked at the list and realized that I was carrying several, including a poor self-image, feelings of rejection, perfectionism, and a fear of failure. These I have battled since childhood. Within that list you might wonder where pride fits in (since I said pride and lack of faith are the root of most sin). In order to concentrate on one’s self image or to feel rejected–then my focus has shifted from God to me which in itself is a form of pride. When I get burdened by my own inadequacies, I am not focusing on Christ who is my Hope, My Joy, My Savior, My Friend, and My Greatest Love. If I truly trust Him, then I can easily cast aside all the petty strife and jealousies that want to burden down my heart and take over my tongue.
Psalm 139: 139 O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
Lord, Bridle my tongue that I might praise You and bring only Glory to Your name. Let me take my eyes off the path and keep it focused only on You. Sometimes I get so busy with this life that I forget to just sit with you a while. It is only there at your feet that I might lay aside the baggage and gaze only upon you.
Hebrews 12: 12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ifE4J2NeFs