Second Thursday of Lent
Today’s Reading: James 1:25-2:1
25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
21My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. [1]
The old adage used by many young people of “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” was given so that when the inevitable name calling of childhood starts they would be prepared. Children are taught to believe that the words used against them are of no consequent. We lead young people to build a self esteem that will build them up to be ready above and beyond what they will need. Over all we teach them there are no harms in our words.
As we grow older, we learn that words do have more power than taught as children. We learn words cut into our mind and being much deeper than any knife. So, the truth we learn is that words do hurt. As a child, I realize that I was lied to about the sticks and stones idea. Words hurt very deeply.
The greatest problem with words is we must lead by example. James is teaching us that we must first take on the strongest muscle in our system. This muscle is our tongue or the instrument of our words. The problem is that we cannot control this powerful muscle. It is through Christ that we can tame the words we use. The way we gain control is through the study of scripture and gaining a stronger relationship with God.
Today’s Reading: James 1:25-2:1
25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
21My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. [1]
The old adage used by many young people of “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” was given so that when the inevitable name calling of childhood starts they would be prepared. Children are taught to believe that the words used against them are of no consequent. We lead young people to build a self esteem that will build them up to be ready above and beyond what they will need. Over all we teach them there are no harms in our words.
As we grow older, we learn that words do have more power than taught as children. We learn words cut into our mind and being much deeper than any knife. So, the truth we learn is that words do hurt. As a child, I realize that I was lied to about the sticks and stones idea. Words hurt very deeply.
The greatest problem with words is we must lead by example. James is teaching us that we must first take on the strongest muscle in our system. This muscle is our tongue or the instrument of our words. The problem is that we cannot control this powerful muscle. It is through Christ that we can tame the words we use. The way we gain control is through the study of scripture and gaining a stronger relationship with God.
Tomorrow’s Reading: James 2:2-5
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jas 1:24-2:1
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