A People of Honor
Scripture:
James 3:8-10 ESV
“but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it 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.”
Devotional:
This month we’ve talked about everything from dating and marriage to friendships. It’s appropriate that we find ourselves in the book of James this week because it has a multitude of guidelines on how to treat people. It emphasizes over and over again that the way you speak to people matters, and the way you treat people matters. As God’s people, we are called to be a people of honor, purity, and unity. We are called to put away sinful patterns that tear others down, and instead lift them up with our words and our actions. One way we can do this is by taming the tongue.
As humans, our greatest sense of value is found in the truth that we are made in the image of God and that we are his children. This week’s verse attests to that truth that every human being has value, and this can never be taken away. The problem comes when, as believers, we sit in the judgment seat and begin speaking ill of others based on our perceptions of who they are and what they deserve. The seat of judgment is reserved for God alone, and yet from his place of power, his mercy triumphs over judgment. Just as the stance of God’s heart towards you is to show you grace and defend you when accusations are made against your character, he has that stance for every human being. God holds the stance of grace. As God’s people, as the body of Christ, it is our job to reflect God’s heart of mercy and compassion towards others.
1 Peter 2:1 states that we are to put away all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These traits have no place in kingdom culture, and although we may find ourselves walking in these sinful patterns, God calls us away from this and into a life of purity, in which we honor those around us in a beautiful and groundbreaking way.
We know what we are not supposed to be - but what about the things we are called to be? We are called to embody the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Consider how many of those qualities are essential in loving others. Another beautiful guideline found in James applies to solving disagreements among one another. James 1:19 says, “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” When you get into an argument with someone you love, ask the Holy Spirit to help you to follow this guideline through self control and the embodiment of gentleness.
God’s desire for his people is that we would be a people of honor, purity, and unity. How can we embody that if we’re stuck in cycles of gossip, slander, and judgement? Make it your aim to defend others the way God would if he was here. See beyond the surface and realize that no matter what a person does, and no matter how their actions appear, they are still worthy of acceptance, value, love, and they are still worthy of being shown grace. If God - the most holy and perfect being to ever exist - sits in the judgment seat and has every right to condemn, yet shows mercy, then it is our job as flawed human beings to follow that example. As the church, our words should be full of life and blessing, because we are one unified body designed to serve God, each other, and the world around us.
Questions:
Are you convicted of showing judgement towards someone where God shows mercy?
What are some biblical guidelines you try to follow when you get into arguments or disagreements?
Where does your tongue need to be tamed? (gossip, slander, lies, anger, etc.)
Think about the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control) and consider which of those qualities you want to grow in. Once you’ve chosen one, begin to intentionally pray this week for God to produce that more powerfully within you.
Are there people in your life you need to make amends with? Is there speech coming out of your mouth that needs to stop?
James 3:8-10 ESV
“but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it 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.”
Devotional:
This month we’ve talked about everything from dating and marriage to friendships. It’s appropriate that we find ourselves in the book of James this week because it has a multitude of guidelines on how to treat people. It emphasizes over and over again that the way you speak to people matters, and the way you treat people matters. As God’s people, we are called to be a people of honor, purity, and unity. We are called to put away sinful patterns that tear others down, and instead lift them up with our words and our actions. One way we can do this is by taming the tongue.
As humans, our greatest sense of value is found in the truth that we are made in the image of God and that we are his children. This week’s verse attests to that truth that every human being has value, and this can never be taken away. The problem comes when, as believers, we sit in the judgment seat and begin speaking ill of others based on our perceptions of who they are and what they deserve. The seat of judgment is reserved for God alone, and yet from his place of power, his mercy triumphs over judgment. Just as the stance of God’s heart towards you is to show you grace and defend you when accusations are made against your character, he has that stance for every human being. God holds the stance of grace. As God’s people, as the body of Christ, it is our job to reflect God’s heart of mercy and compassion towards others.
1 Peter 2:1 states that we are to put away all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These traits have no place in kingdom culture, and although we may find ourselves walking in these sinful patterns, God calls us away from this and into a life of purity, in which we honor those around us in a beautiful and groundbreaking way.
We know what we are not supposed to be - but what about the things we are called to be? We are called to embody the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Consider how many of those qualities are essential in loving others. Another beautiful guideline found in James applies to solving disagreements among one another. James 1:19 says, “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” When you get into an argument with someone you love, ask the Holy Spirit to help you to follow this guideline through self control and the embodiment of gentleness.
God’s desire for his people is that we would be a people of honor, purity, and unity. How can we embody that if we’re stuck in cycles of gossip, slander, and judgement? Make it your aim to defend others the way God would if he was here. See beyond the surface and realize that no matter what a person does, and no matter how their actions appear, they are still worthy of acceptance, value, love, and they are still worthy of being shown grace. If God - the most holy and perfect being to ever exist - sits in the judgment seat and has every right to condemn, yet shows mercy, then it is our job as flawed human beings to follow that example. As the church, our words should be full of life and blessing, because we are one unified body designed to serve God, each other, and the world around us.
Questions:
Are you convicted of showing judgement towards someone where God shows mercy?
What are some biblical guidelines you try to follow when you get into arguments or disagreements?
Where does your tongue need to be tamed? (gossip, slander, lies, anger, etc.)
Think about the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control) and consider which of those qualities you want to grow in. Once you’ve chosen one, begin to intentionally pray this week for God to produce that more powerfully within you.
Are there people in your life you need to make amends with? Is there speech coming out of your mouth that needs to stop?
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