James 3:3-5a — Little Bitty...

READ THIS: James 3:3-5a

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5a Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.

 

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

A bit is the little metal piece that people put in a horse's mouth that you can attach the reigns to. By tugging on the reigns, you tug on the bit, which moves the horse in the direction you want. A rudder is a little wooden or metal piece on boats (yes, airplanes also have rudders, but let's talk about boats) and when you turn the big steering wheel of a boat, you're actually shifting the little rudder that's in the water so that the whole boat goes the way you want it to. 

If you notice...a bit is really small compared to the whole horse, and the rudder is really small compared to a whole boat. These little tiny things control something much bigger than themselves. The same thing goes for our tongues. Tongues control the words that come out of our mouths and that little muscle can change the whole room around us. Just like a bit or a rudder changes the direction of a much bigger thing, our words can change the direction of our whole surroundings, affecting the whole day of other people. 

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. Has someone ever said something to you that ruined your whole day? What about something that made your whole day?

 

2. When's the last time you've said something that has positively shifted the whole atmosphere around you?

 

TRY THIS:

Today at church, try and change the atmosphere around you with your words in a positive way! If someone says something discouraging, say something encouraging!