James 3:6 Says the Tongue is a fire! Have you ever thought about how much power is in the tongue for either good or bad? A word of encouragement, appreciation, or wisdom can go a long way. But words of slander, gossip, discouragement, or words that tear down instead of building up can also have severe repercussions. You can never take words back once they are spoken. Words that are unkind or untrue can last a lifetime. Slander and gossip can spread like wildfire. I remember a commercial on TV when I was young showing a man lighting a cigarette and throwing a lit match on the ground which started a forest fire. Smoky the bear would then say, “only you can prevent forest fires”. If someone tells you gossip, do not tell it to others. The late Adrian Rodgers once said, “don’t let them use your ears for trashcans”. Words can have lasting consequences. Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
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