James 3:9-11‏

9. "With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God's likeness!"

Through career paths that God has allowed me to have over the years, I have known a few very intelligent men and women whom I do not consider myself even close to being equal to, educationally. And, I've observed some whom felt, because they were, "wise" they had great control over their tongue. They might add, that, "everyone loses control sometime"... but, that just proves God's point, doesn't it? God says, nobody can control their tongue. Here, James points to an irony of self control, where we might lift high and lofty praise to the Creator, yet say vile things toward His prized creation, with the same tongue. Can we see the irony in this?

10. "Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so."

James is not merely suggesting that this is a bad thing, but that "literally" it should not be possible, "if" the tongue is under the Holy Spirit's control. Listen...

11. "Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter?"

Answer this question and we'll bring this matter of the tongue and control to the real issue. Something is wrong with what we believe. Again, James takes us ALL THE WAY BACK TO THAT MOMENT WE BELIEVE TO HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT. For, if it were so, both blessing and cursing cannot come from the same mouth. Not without internal correction and conviction. Not without shame, and repentance.

Let's pick up with James verse 3:12 next time.

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