James 1:26‏

"If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren)." James 1:26‏

Just hours before sitting down to look over this passage today, the Lord actually showed me an example of the error James reveals here. I had read a spiritual question someone had set before their friends. I looked at the question and immediately thought of a very wise truth that should address the question. I did not go to the Lord with the issue... in fact, I didn't even reason with myself about it... I knew it was true, religious, and relative. Someone was hurt by my comment and I knew immediately that I was in trouble with God "first", for not going to Him with it before saying anything.

James just showed us an internal error involving religion instead of relation... "listening to God's Word and not doing what He says." Now he turns to an external error... "thinking we're religious and not bridling our tongue." Two practical examples of personal application of God's Word, which are a clear demonstrations of our dependency on a relationship with Christ. Let's look at something Jesus said about the tongue...

"The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced." Matthew 12:35-37

Jesus makes a very obvious distinction between two very different poles in this passage... each is very important. But to me, it seems even more important what underneath both truths, and it is that, "everything we say in life is weighed, measured for what it really means". We may not think "everything" is but that's exactly what Jesus says, here, James knew this... he also knew the place where what we say, originates, which is contrary to what science believes, "the heart".

Absent of the cognitive producing parts that the brain has, the heart of every man is where good and evil dwell. The things that are formed in our minds come from the spirit of our heart first. Christ, must be free to clean out everything that resides in the heart and that comes from a surrendering... a dying of self.

Let's pick up with James verse 1:27 next time.

I love you.