I would like for you to imagine that you are standing in a room filled with books. As you look up in awe at the vast number; you see books that are ornate and books that are plain. You see all shapes and sizes and your mind is filled with wonder because you were told that the same author created all of these books.

Out of the corner of your eye you catch a glimpse of a book that looks ugly and vile and you are drawn to that part of the room. As you come closer a putrid stench over comes you and your eyes began to water. Suddenly you look away and realize that there are quite a few books like this one amongst the beauty and splendor of the rest of the library.

Your mind is spinning as you try to conceive why would this author include these dark and obviously distasteful books amongst his life’s work?

Your curiosity can no longer be contained you take one of books off the shelf and you open the book to look at the authors name. You stare at the name and blink your eyes in disbelief and also in hope that the name will somehow magically change.

You hang your head in horror and shame and you weep bitterly because the author is none other than you. These books contain all of the words that you have ever spoken. How many of you would want people to read all of the books in your library? I know that I would feel a shame greater than what words could describe. I would only want for people to see my best words, my finest moments in life.

The following verses from James talk about the tongue:

“3 Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” James 3:3-12 (NKJV)

I believe that God wants us to know and understand how vicious and destructive our words can be. But we are not alone in our struggle; I know that God can help us control what comes out of our mouths.

We also need to remember that when we come before God’s throne of mercy and grace and confess our sins, there is forgiveness.