The tongue as metaphor

After James 3:1-12 

Of all the works of man,

none is so powerful as

the tongue. It does

great good, and it does

great harm. If we teach,

we must remember

it is the tongue which

makes us stumble. It

guides the whole person,

like the bit in the horse’s

mouth, like the rudder

of a ship, like the fire

in the forest, the fire

that provides heat 

in the cold and destruction

among the trees and brush.

The tongue can be tamed,

but only as an act of God;

none of us can tame

our tongues.

 

Photograph by Izzy Park via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

Our Mother-tongue is Live: A Sonnet for Pentecost – Malcolm Guite.

 

Steve McQueen, born again, set free – Patrick Luscri. 

 

Even Now, God Can Rescue Your Prodigal – Jill Noble at Desiring God.