It's Hard Work... +

With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!

My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?
James 3:9-12 The Message Bible

Have you ever had someone in your life who repeatedly frustrated the fire out of you? At some point, you decide you've had enough and you're just going to tell them exactly how you feel! You feel justified in your anger and frustration and you're not holding back any longer. You let them have it! Both barrels... How'd that work for you?

If, on every other day, you live your life to follow Christ, then in this instance of Oh, it will feel good to tell them off - it only takes a second or two after you've spouted off to get that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach.

And if we would take the time to pray and submit our will and our flesh to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we would realize that we really don't want to sow that kind of garbage in someone's life.

If we reap what we sow (and we do!), do we really want to reap the harvest of our bad attitudes? Think about it for a moment.  That would equate to a lot less profit on our return, and a lot of extra work trying to remove the garbage thrown out there from that which is good.

Continuing in Chapter 3, verses 17 & 18, Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

Jesus never said it would be easy. In truth, He told us it would be hard...but it's not impossible.

Prayer:

Father,
            According to Your Word, O God, Let my prayer be accepted as sweet-smelling incense in Your presence. Let the lifting up of my hands in prayer be accepted as an evening sacrifice. O Lord, set a guard at my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen