Proverb 18;21 ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof’
DAILY READING – – Mark 14:32-72; 1 Kings 9; Hosea 11:1-11
The most destructive fire in America was started by a very small spark. From October 8-10, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire burned out of control, quickly spreading far and wide across the city. Eventually, rains came to help put out the fire, but the devastation was massive. By some accounts, as many as 300 people died in the Great Chicago Fire. The fire destroyed over 17,000 buildings and left over 100,000 people homeless. In total, the fire caused over $200 million in damages. In today’s dollars, that would equate to over $3 billion in damages!
Investigations traced the start of the fire from the barn of Mrs. Catherine O’Leary, an Irish immigrant. Some account said her cow kicked over a lantern in the barn, setting nearby hay on fire. Today, over a century later, the Chicago Fire Department training academy is located on the site of the O’Leary property where the Great Chicago Fire had started.
Small spark, big fire. That’s the way James described the damage done by our reckless and careless words. Indeed it is amazing how a great fire can be started by just a spark. Just like a little spark can set a whole city ablaze so also the tongue. An unwise word spoken at an inopportune time can cause years of problems.The tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! —James 3:5.
We must not underestimate the destructive potential of words. Words are powerful. Careless words have started wars. The best way to avert the fire is to keep from striking that first match. We must let the wisdom of God check our thoughts before they leave our tongues. As we draw on God’s wisdom through His Word, we can smother the sparks of dissension and instead speak words of peace. Our words should be constructive instead of destructive. This is what Proverb 18;21 means when it says ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof’
Our words, can give life or give death; words can fight fires as well as start them. We should therefore aim to speak words that solve problems rather than creating them. And if perhaps you have made negative utterances in the past, that could create problems in your future, be quick to repent today and pray for the abortion of the negative harvest. Ask God for His help in taming your tongue. God, by the work of His Spirit through the Word, can tame our tongues. By God’s grace, we can be, with our tongue, fire fighters rather than fire starters. Let our tongues steer our destiny along the line of God’s will. Indeed by God’s grace we shall speak only that which is in agreement with the God’s Word.
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always speak right. May my heart be constantly filled with Your Word, so that out of the abundance in my heart, my mouth will speak blessings to those around me. In everything may my mouth constantly glorify You in Jesus Name.
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Your heart needs to be filled with The Word of God to the point of overflow. – WORDBITE 222