A Soft Tongue

By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us earnestly seek to soften our tongues rather than sharpen them.  The Lord's ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts our thoughts.  It would seem that a sharpened tongue would send a word deeper than a soft word could, but His ways are not our ways.  

When responding to an aggressive word, a sharp word will often only serve to cut or wound.   It will not likely turn the wrath away,  rather it will only delay the battle for another day.   A soft answer on the other hand is like the substance asbestos.  Although, now largely outlawed, it was once the leading fire retardant in the world.   The qualities that made it that way were that it was soft, easily applied to multiple types of surfaces, and very resistant to flame.
     
A soft answer is like asbestos in that it takes the full brunt of the flames without catching fire itself.   We are not much help to a situation when we allow vehement flames to simply catch us on fire and then go running around spreading the flames to others.
     
In a situation where the flames of tension and confusion have already been at work.  It is very likely that both sides in such a fire are hearing things that are difficult to deal with.  Large fires always send embers high aloft and widespread. 


Remember, both sides in such a fire have similar emotions, and the same temptations to insecurity and carnal reactions that we are all subject to.   The enemy will use this confusion to supply weapons to both sides in hopes that they will continue to go at it with each other.   

Let's be careful not to find ourselves holding hands with the accuser of our brothers or using the ammo he is happy to supply.        


In these situations, let us not miss the opportunity we have to forgive others as we have been forgiven.   Let's especially remember that we have often yielded to hurt and missed the way of escape ourselves.   If it becomes obvious that others have missed the way of escape, let's not forget how we too have been shown mercy for the very same errors.   Let grace be the asbestos covering our own heart and mind.
     
May those who have grown in this area lead the way for others and be examples of just how much heat they can take without catching fire.   One other suggestion for avoiding the fire season - stay saturated with living water.  The rainy season is not usually a time of fire hazard in many areas.   Things that are fresh and green don't burn that easily.
An email sent out by Alan, Jan/2011



"God has given us two ears, but one tongue, to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak. God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips, to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."

Thomas Watson

The true test of a man’s spirituality is not his ability to speak, as we are apt to think, but rather his ability to bridle his tongue.~Kent Hughes

Jas 3:5  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 


Jas 3:17,18  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.