Tongues of Fire

Meditations in the Season of Lent 

March 13, 2025

Tongues of Fire

Sometimes (our tongue) praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes (our tongue) curses those who have been made in the image of God.

James 3:9

Read: James 3:1-12

James makes the point that those who teach in the church are judged more strictly. (v.1) I think more people speaking in the church need to read this verse because we are held accountable for what we speak, and for what we write. I am very aware of this each time I sit down to write these daily meditations.

James presented what appears to be hopeless conditions. Our tongue is a flame of fire. “It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” (v.6) We need to be aware of this because our tongue reveals whether we are still corrupted by the world. I think James wanted the church to recognize this dichotomy that is the reality of our life.

We are the beloved children of God, and the spirit of Christ is within us. However, our mortal life, apart from God, is still alive and well within us. Therefore, Saint Paul called us to deny the ways of our old self and make the choice to live by trusting in the Son of God. (Galatians 2:20)

We also need to be aware of Saint Paul’s encouragement:

“Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:24-25a)

 

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” (Romans 8: 1-2)

My Takeaway: First, as I am working on this meditation, I recall the harsh language I spewed at the TV last night when a politician said something that angered me. Verse 9 isn’t some nice prose on a page in the Bible. Verse 9 convicts me of my sin! Secondly, I can press on, seeking to live my life trusting in Jesus, because he loves me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.