My reading today talks about the uncontrollable tongue. This tiny part of my body that seems to possess a mind of its own. This is, of course, not true. It is like an instrument in a masters hand. As soon as the melody is constructed there is no barrier between the thought and the production of the music. There is a straight, unhindered connection between the hands and the mind.
Such is as it is with the tongue and the heart. My contrary ways reveal themselves in contrary words. I profess a love of God yet my words can be like poison. Particularly a poison to the spirit of other people.
How to reign in this small muscle? Were it as easy as to place a bit, like a horse and lead it as I will (or as God wills). But no such instrument exists. The tongue has a hand on its own rudder.
This is the command: to remain vigilant in our hearts to the evil ways inside of us. To place a barrier between our hearts and words. Enough that we have evil thought but to spread them in the world is let loose darkness and let engulf the little light we do shine.
Discipline of thoughts can be attained through continual prayer and reading the word. Being “in Christ” is incompatible with sinful sayings. We can still force it but we feel deeply the annoyance of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that provides the door away from sin. The choice to use the door is ours. This God promises us when He said that there would be no temptation we could not handle, none without a door of escape.
If we purpose ourselves to remain in the light of the Holy Spirit and venture not into the shadows, we may claim to be a follower of Christ.
Mark K.