"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt sprig produce a fresh water."
-James 3:9-12 (TNIV)
People who are in God, should ask the perseverance of fire in their hearts from God, so that they may stand against evil cunning and earthly schemes. This earthly schemes detest God just like uttering bad word and foul languages and sometimes evil jargons. Based on my observation in the crooked generation we have today, young people are very fond of developing this kind of practice. Not just the youth but also some of the elders who are sometimes misusing God's holy name in vain. Our mouth is the best way to communicate people, as a social being. We should at least try to consecrate our mouth to God- sold out to speak only praises, glory, gratitude, blessing and joy to God and to express our intentions. If we want to speak something negative, we should try to think thrice before we say it or at least use euphemism, in a most desirable manner. We should not let it utter worst expression that can trigger hurt feelings to our fellowmen and despise our God. The control of the tongue is the greatest mark of spiritual maturity. Our tongue is very powerful indeed, what you say might come to reality for you declare it- that's why you must take guard of it. God made our tongue for a special purpose- to raise our voices through prayers and worship, to declare the word of God and express the love to our fellowmen with the love given by the omni-everything God, who himself is love.
-The tongue is the deadliest weapon we have. Consecrate it, when you raise your voice may it only to build one's character and nurture one's self with God-given wisdom and most of all may it only be to the advancement of the Kingdom of the Most High.
Here are a few scriptures about what the Word of God says about the tongue and sinful actions. I pray that they will bless you and guide you as they have me many times.
(NIV)
Psalm 15
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
Psalm 34
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.
Psalm 37
30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.
Proverbs 6
16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
Proverbs 10
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
Proverbs 11
12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
Proverbs 12
18 Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 15
4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 17
20 A man of perverse heart does not prosper;
he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
Proverbs 17
28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning if he holds his tongue.
Proverbs 18
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 21
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.
Proverbs 26
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Proverbs 28
23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than he who has a flattering tongue.
Job 5
21 You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,
and need not fear when destruction comes.
Jeremiah 9
8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit.
With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor,
but in his heart he sets a trap for him.
James 1
26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does
not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself
and his religion is worthless.
James 3
5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it
makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set
on fire by a small spark.
James 3
6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the
parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets
the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set
on fire by hell.
James 3
8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil,
full of deadly poison.
James 3
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and
with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
1 Peter 3
10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep
his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
1 John 3
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue
but with actions and in truth.
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
Psalm 34
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.
Psalm 37
30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.
Proverbs 6
16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
Proverbs 10
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
Proverbs 11
12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
Proverbs 12
18 Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 15
4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 17
20 A man of perverse heart does not prosper;
he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
Proverbs 17
28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning if he holds his tongue.
Proverbs 18
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 21
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.
Proverbs 26
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Proverbs 28
23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than he who has a flattering tongue.
Job 5
21 You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,
and need not fear when destruction comes.
Jeremiah 9
8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit.
With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor,
but in his heart he sets a trap for him.
James 1
26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does
not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself
and his religion is worthless.
James 3
5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it
makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set
on fire by a small spark.
James 3
6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the
parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets
the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set
on fire by hell.
James 3
8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil,
full of deadly poison.
James 3
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and
with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
1 Peter 3
10 For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep
his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
1 John 3
18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue
but with actions and in truth.
Credits to Hubpages.com for the compilation verses about the tongue, Taken from my very own Devotional Notebook dated October 17,2011.
