The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion" Scripture: James 3:1-12 for Wednesday, 9 September 2015

The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion" Scripture: James 3:1-12 for Wednesday, 9 September 2015
James 3: 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, since you know that we will be judged more severely. 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[Complete Jewish Bible]] 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.[Complete Jewish Bible]"From the same mouth come blessing and curse." Keeping with our theme for this week of teaching and prayer, here we are all being called to speak the words of benediction, literally "good words." Of course, we can do that in public worship, but perhaps equally as impactful, is when we give the benediction of "good words" to those we meet.
Speaking words of appreciation to the grocery checker, the landscape worker, the police officer, the crossing guard, our child's teacher, or the teller at the bank, by the power of the Holy Spirit can change the trajectory of a person's life. We can speak informal benedictions to all people because we believe that God is working on every life. Our calling is to give voice to that grace: "God has blessed you," "I'll pray for you"; "God is good"; "Thank you for your kindness." Every time we speak a benediction, we're working with the Spirit to open a life up to the Word, Jesus Christ.
May our words be benedictions Lord, causing people to pause, give thanks, and consider again Your presence in their lives; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
David Mattson
Gloria Dei Lutheran, Dana Point, Calif.
Master of Divinity, 1987
James 3: 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies.
4 Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,
8 but no one can tame the tongue: restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water?
12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. [New Revised Standard Version]
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