Is the tongue connected to the heart?

1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

In the verse above, James may be posing a supposed thought and possibly a statement that some people were making. I'm a religious person" or, "I think I'm religious" etc. But, they were not bridling their tongues.

Religious, or religion here, means, the person who is worshipping, or fearing God. So, when a person says, "I'm a worshipper, I'm a follower of the Lord, I fear God", but they are not at the same time bridling their tongue, they are deceiving their own heart, and their religion is useless, it's empty, it's vain.

To bridle the tongue, would be for the tongue to be led, or to be restrained. Or, for a person to be in control of themselves, and not unrestrained in what they are saying. They are watching what they say. They are controlling what they say.

James will have more to say about the tongue in chapter 3. But for now, he makes this one simple, short little statement. Jesus spoke about the connection between the heart and the tongue. Let's take a quick look.

Lu 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Jesus had been talking about good trees and bad trees ( Luke 6:43-44 ) Good trees bear good fruit, and bad trees bear bad fruit. And, a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Trees bear what they are, either for good, or for bad. A tree cannot bear something other then what it is. For example, an apple tree does not bear oranges, or pears, but apples, because it is an apple tree.

Now, turning to men, Jesus says that a good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. And then Jesus gives an explanation. "For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" Meaning, that what a man is full of, is going to come out in the way that he talks. You can tell what is in a man's heart, by listening to him speak. The tongue and the heart are connected in that sense.

Why would this kind of man's religion then be useless as James says? Useless, means, to no purpose, or of no purpose, barren, and futile. But, again, why is this person's religion useless? It is a good question. As some have said, "talk is cheap", and "actions speak louder then words" I believe that's true when it comes to our walks with the Lord. We can talk all we want about the Lord, but if it's not showing up in how we live, it's really useless. There is power in love. And, God's love can change our hearts, and make us careful and aware of what we say, and of how we act. God's love, can make us watchful over how we are living, and encourage us to live and act in His love.

We probably have all heard the statement, "Walk Your talk" In other words, if you are saying one thing, then show it in the way you live. James will also deal with that subject later in chapter 2. The relationship between our faith and our works.

Father, I'm sure we have all been guilty of saying and not doing. And, I know that You forgive sins, and cleanse us of all our un-righteousness. We thank You that You can not only forgive, but You can change us, and we can bear fruit in our lives, and we can seek to control our tongues and have our hearts pleasing before You. Help us Lord. In Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promises

1. God is so good.

2. God seeks to change us from the inside out.

3. God gives us self-control.

4. We need what God gives.

5. God does not condemn us for our sins.

6. God sent Jesus to save us from our sins.

7. God wants us to shine and bring glory to Him.

Why be interested in the Bible?

Pastor Bob explains why the Bible ought to be of great interest to us. It's because of what God can do through it, to the heart that is humble and receptive.

How does God bless our lives?

No one wants misery, trouble, or affliction, and difficulties ( though they come ) but, we all desire blessing from God, and the fact is, He wants to bless your life also.

Numbers 6:24 tells us so “The LORD bless you and keep you;

And so does James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Blessed, means, to be fortunate, happy, well off. It means to experience blessing in direct relationship to being a doer of God's Word, and not a hearer only. When a believer in Jesus Christ, hears God's Word, and then responds to it by obeying it, doing what God says in His Word, the net result is blessing.

God uses His Word being received into our lives, understood, and responded to as the means of bringing blessing into our lives. Remember, Jesus Christ is Himself the Word of God. He is the supreme blesser of any and all who place their faith in Him.

Oh Yes, sometimes, many times in fact, we are in the fire of a trial, and dark nights of the soul, but even then, we can find blessing from God.

But in James 1, the point is made a number of times, that when we receive God's Word, we hear God's Word, and we respond to God's word in obedience, it brings blessing into our lives.

What is the blessing? How does it look when it comes? One of the main ways, in how the Lord works in our hearts personally, building us up, freeing us from guilt, sin, temptation, sadness, depression, hatred, bitterness, etc, etc. He leads us in the paths of righteousness, and satisfies our souls, giving us spiritual wisdom and understanding about life. He also energizes our lives with His Holy Spirit, and we become more interested in the things of God, then the things of this passing world. Probably the biggest blessing, is the expansion of His love in our hearts and souls and minds.

Father in Heaven, we love You, and lift Your name on high today. Come and bless us Lord, fill us Lord, baptize us Lord in the Holy Spirit again today. Show us Your ways, and lead us in Your paths, all the days of our lives. Cause Your face to shine upon us, and give us peace. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. No matter what your condition, God can bless you.

2. A simple step of obedience to the Word lays before all of us.

3. It's step by step, day by day.

4. When He speaks through the Word, let's receive it in humility.

5. Hearing and doing are meant to do together.

6. Blessing comes through hearing, and doing.

7. Abiding in His Word, is Abiding in the truth of God.

8. May blessings abound in your life.

Why should we be interested in the Bible?

Simply put, because of what it can do in our lives. ( in fact, nothing else can equal what God's Word can do in our lives ) See what's said below........

James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Please notice the three things that are said about the Word of God.

Firstly, the Word is to be received by us in meekness. Which means, we are to have a humble and gentle spirit, a meek spirit. that's the first thing, to be of a ready heart towards the Word.

Secondly, it's the implanted Word, which means, it's in your life. We know of course that Christ ( Who is the Word of God ) is in us. So, the Word of God, Jesus Christ is within you. He came into your life the very moment you received Him at salvation.

Thirdly, it is able to save your souls. This means that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, can continue the good work that He has started in you. He is able to save you, to rescue you, to protect you, to care for you, and to deliver you, that's what save means. It literally means, to make you whole, to heal you.

So, we have been saved by "the Word of truth" See James 1:18. The Bible actually speaks of our salvation in past, present and future tenses. We have been saved, and we are being saved, and we will be saved. James is speaking in 1:21, about this present and future aspect of our salvation. God's Word can save your soul.

Jesus also prayed about the power of the Word of God in peoples lives, when He said in John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Jesus was asking His Father to sanctify, or set apart for God's exclusive use, the disciples by God's truth, the Word of truth. The Word of God has that power in our lives, to set us apart to God.

God wants to save us, God wants us to draw near to Him, God wants to accomplish His will in our lives, and He uses His own word to do so.

Father, we want to pray right along with this prayer of Jesus's, and ask that You do indeed set us apart to Yourself. No one else can do that for us, nothing on earth has the power that Your Word has. Thank You for Your loving interest in us, thank You for wanting to change our lives, and thank You for providing us with the means to do so.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. Nothing equals the Word of God.

2. Jesus Christ truly is with His people.

3. God has future plans for us.

4. May we receive God's Word in a gentle and humble way.

5. We can cooperate with God, let's do it.

6. God is not finished with you yet, He still has a work to do.

7. God uses His Word, to bring about His ways.

What can God do in your life?

What does the Lord want to do in your life? What can He do in your life? What will He do in your life? How can He do it in your life?

Pastor Bob looks to 1st Thessalonians 1:7-9 for the answers

What does God want to do in your life?

Please read the verses below, ( which deal with the Church of Thessalonica ) and then let's look together at the answer found right after these verses.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

1 Thessalonians 1:7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

1 Thessalonians 1:8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

I believe, the answer to the question is found in the model and the example of the church of Thessalonica, the church that Paul the apostle founded, and in the 8 things that are said in the verses listed above.....

1. They became followers of the Lord

2. They became examples to their nation.

3. They were used to get the Word of God out.

4. They had faith in God which was evident

5. They had turned to God away from idols.

6. They were serving the living and true God.

7. They were waiting for the coming of again of Jesus Christ.

8. They were delivered from the wrath of God

Not much comment is needed here, or much by way of explanation. What they were stands out very clearly. What they were was the direct result of 3 things by the way, They received the Word of God, the Holy Spirit was at work in their lives, and they did not allow present trials or difficulties keep them from becoming what God wanted them to be.

Let's just go back over the list again, quickly.....followers of Jesus, examples to other believers, used by God to get the Word out to others, their faith was very evident to others, they had turned away from idols, they were serving the living and true God, they were waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ, and they were also delivered from the coming wrath, or judgement of God.

I would say to myself, and to anyone reading this devotional, that these are things we can pray for in our lives. This tremendous example that is given to us, is not unusual, in terms of this ought to be the normal christian life. These are the kinds of things that God does in the life of any persons who are open to Him, to His Word, and to the work of the Holy Spirit, and are receptive to God's Word, and are responsive to God's Word.

Let's pray right now. Lord, my heart may be yearning to grow and to move on into what You have for me. You are the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Your own way. I know that with and in Christ, I can do all the things that You want for me, and I know that You give us the power of the Holy Spirit, when asked for.......You will do that for any who ask. We ask today, to be Baptized Freshly in the Holy Spirit. Begin making us more and more in what You want us to be. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application/Promise

1. God can do it.

2. God will do it.

3. God may already be starting to do it in your life.

4. God calls us to believe Him.

5. God calls us to act upon His Word.

6. God has a life for you to live.

7. God will finish the work that He has begun in you.

8. God can be served today.

9. God has delivered you from coming judgment.

10. Jesus will return someday, and take you to heaven.

What to remove, and what 2 receive.

There are 2 things to remove from our lives, and then there is 1 thing to take into our lives. The 1 will do us more good than we can ever imagine, and more good than anything in the whole wide world.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia