Bible Reading: Job 25; James 1:22-27.
“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” -James 1:26 (KJV)
People have made statements like “you are born again but your mouth is not born again” and people laugh over it as if it’s a normal joke. However examining such statements in the light of biblical words in James 1:26 shows that no one can be born again if his/her mouth is not bridled.
No wonder Proverbs 13:3 (KJV) says: “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction”. So the first physical part of your body that should be apparently under control is your mouth. Since it is the source of life. However the mouth itself cannot be tamed because it is a derivative of the heart. This is why the bible says in James 3:8 (KJV): “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison”. So what then do we do to an unruly tongue. The bible provides us with the answer in Matthew 12:34 (KJV): ” O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”.
So to bridle the mouth, the heart must be sanctified. It must be set apart for God. We need to control what goes into our heart (mind). Philippians 4:8 (KJV): “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”. These are things we should allow into our thought process through the various senses.
You must also understand the grave consequence of dwelling on evil thoughts as such may lead to evil communications! 1 Corinthians 15:33 (KJV): “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners”. In all these, you need to recognise that God knows all your thoughts and what you do with them. So to please God, you should only dwell on good thoughts in your minds. This also implies studying the word of God regularly so that the heart is full of those words. When the heart is filled with the words of God, the mouth will of necessity speak good things from there! Psalm 119:11 (KJV): “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
Prayer point: Father, sanctify my heart in the mighty name of Jesus.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero