The Untameable Organ

For devotion today, I was taken to James 3. Here we are introduced to an untameable organ in the human body; the tongue. Listen to what scripture says about the tongue:

5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

The Word says the tongue is an 'unruly evil' (have mercy!!). You can learn a lot about what is in a man's heart when he is angry. May folks seem to be the sweetest, kindness people when things are going well, but when life doesn't line up with their desires (when a car cuts them off, when slighted, when reviled), a rant of harsh words and profanity may issue out of their mouths. Some 'Christians' even boast about how careful others should be lest they let their tongues out! These things (REALLY) ought not to be. It is impossible for a salt water stream to give off fresh water, and vice verse, so a too our tongues cannot praise God in one instance and curse man in the other. Out of our hearts come the issue of life, and by our fruit, we know what kind of tree we really are. Pray for conversion; pray that The LORD not only converts our tongues, but our hearts, our minds, and our whole beings. Let this be our prayer today.