Learning the practical side of the spiritual life wherein the old customs, rites, rituals, traditions and habits are laid aside as waist, this also includes the thought life as known and our being first raised in, more on this in chapter 4. For our re-birth requires our ability to reason by or with GOD'S wisdom which is Christ's mind-set.
James 3:1-12 "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 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. 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: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh." (KJV)
James 3:1-12 "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." (ESV)
James 3:1-12 "My Friends, let's not be quick to assume the title of teacher. Remember when we teach we subject ourselves to greater scrutiny. It is common habit to [1]descend from a higher place (of faith) to a lower (of the sense and emotional realms of the flesh), especially in conversations. However, if you want to be in perfect charge of your whole person, the best place to begin is to take charge of your tongue. (To reflect the word that confirms your true genesis [James 1:18-19], The word, [1] peripipto, comes from, peri, and means surrounded + pipto, is from petomai, meaning to fly; thus, to descend from a higher place to a lower, to stop flying.) With bit and bridle we are able to direct the strong body of a horse; it's the little bit in the mouth that makes the difference! Consider the effect of a small rudder on a large ship, when the seasoned captain skillfully steers that vessel on a straight course contrary to fierce winds and weather. As small a member the tongue might be it can make great claims. A little fire can go out of control and consume a large forest! A tongue can strike like lightning and turn the harmony of your world into chaos; one little member can stain the whole body. It can disrupt the pattern of our design, taking its spark from the smoldering garbage heaps of [1]Gehenna. ([1]The garbage heap outside Jerusalem, commonly related to hell. Gehenna, is the Latin word; Geenas is the Greek word used for the Hebrew "Valley of Hinnom," which is modern day Wadi er-Rababi. A fiery place for the disposal of waste matter from the city of Jerusalem. The "Valley of Hinnom" lies outside of ancient Jerusalem. Thus to slander someone is to reduce that person to rubbish.) Form tigers to eagles, cobras to dolphins, humans have succeeded to curb the wild nature of beasts and birds, reptiles and sea creatures. Yet on-one can tame a tongue; no-one can restrain the evil in its fatal venom. (The Levitical Law of works operated by willpower cannot match the effect of the law of perfect liberty! Mirror likeness ignites true freedom to utter that which is precious!) We can say beautiful things about GOD the Father but with the same mouth curse a fellow human made in his mirror likeness. (The point is not what the person did to deserve the insult. The point is that people are image and likeness bearers of GOD by design! True worship is to touch someone's life with the same devotion and care you would touch Jesus himself with; even if the other person seems a most unlikely candidate.) My Friends, a blessing and a curse cannot originate from the same source. (Discovering our true source brings true freedom. [James 1:17-18] ) Not even a natural fountain produces both bitter and sweet water. As impossible as it is for a fig tree to bear olives, and a vine to produce figs, so a fountain cannot yield salt and fresh water from the same source." (The Mirror, with editing)
Until our next visit may the LORD reveal his image and likeness's truth within us all.
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