The Upper Room Daily Devotional from The United Methodist Church of Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 17 October 2017 "Sticks and Stones" by Chuck Kralik - James 3:2-12
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DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2017
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. That saying is meant to guard us from the harshness of words. In reality, however, we all know that words do hurt, and they can harm someone easily. A thousand words spoken in kindness can be undermined by one word spoken in anger. A moment’s worth of criticism can overshadow a day’s worth of praise and appreciation. As much as I’d like to think that I am the perpetual victim in the war of words, I realize that I am also the culprit. The words of others may wound me, but I also wound others with my words.
James warned us about the destructive potential of our words. May our prayer be that we speak words that bring life and joy, not death and despair. May our hope be that the words we speak will build people up, not tear them down. We can encourage, praise, and lift people up. Words can wound, but Jesus has redeemed our words. May we speak life and grace to all and ceaselessly praise his name.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for redeeming us. May we continually reflect your grace in all that we say. Use our words to bring life, joy, and encouragement to others. Amen.
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James 3:2 For we all stumble in many ways; if someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who can bridle his whole body. 3 If we put a bit into a horse’s mouth to make it obey us, we control its whole body as well. 4 And think of a ship — although it is huge and is driven by strong winds, yet the pilot can steer it wherever he wants with just a small rudder. 5 So too the tongue is a tiny part of the body, yet it boasts great things. See how a little fire sets a whole forest ablaze! 6 Yes, the tongue is a fire, a world of wickedness. The tongue is so placed in our body that it defiles every part of it, setting ablaze the whole of our life; and it is set on fire by Gei-Hinnom itself. 7 For people have tamed and continue to tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures; 8 but the tongue no one can tame — it is an unstable and evil thing, full of death-dealing poison! 9 With it we bless Adonai, the Father; and with it we curse people, who were made in the image of God.[James 3:9 Genesis 1:26–27] 10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing! Brothers, it isn’t right for things to be this way. 11 A spring doesn’t send both fresh and bitter water from the same opening, does it? 12 Can a fig tree yield olives, my brothers? or a grapevine, figs? Neither does salt water produce fresh.
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I will speak words of God’s grace and peace to someone today.
Someone I have wounded with my words
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Header Photo Credit: "Harvested Land," Beth Shumate. August 15, 2014. (link)
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