A flame of fire ...


A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. ... Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! -James 3:5,6,9,10 NLT

James goes on from here to speak of how "you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring." In saying this he acknowledges that our words are often mere products of something that comes from deep within. In a sense, this tiny spark of fire comes from a raging fire that is burning within. I have witnessed such flames coming from my mouth. It reminds me of how the scriptures speak of reaping what we have sowed in the soil of our hearts.

Seeds sprout when we least expect it. Wounds buried in the depths of our beings surface with minor provocation - and people are burned with our flames. It speaks to me about how I need to keep my innermost being strong. To keep my spring clean I must acknowledge and confess my sins to God. To insure that fiery bitterness does not spew from my mouth I must forgive offences before they grab hold of me. It is an issue of being strong on the inside.

Lord, please show us how to keep our inner waters fresh and fit for others to drink.


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