Sunday, January 03, 2016

Roots, Branches, & What We Allow to Grow

So we've been talking about the book of James in Sunday school. The best I can describe it, James is mostly about discipleship, and not being a phony Christian.

Recently we've been going over the verses regarding the tongue: 3:1 - 12.  Verse 6: "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and is set on fire by hell."

That verse has really got to give one pause. It reminds me of Jesus'  words in Matthew 15:18--"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man."

This set me thinking after church, as I wandered around town, about what was inside me. Full disclosure: I've been fairly prayerless the past week or so. I'm newly returned to the Lord and still trying to get disciplined about my devotional time.

All of the negative stuff from James has sort of been coming into play (not in a big way, but bad enough) : faith w/o works, envy, pride, an untamable tongue, listening to too much secular music and feeling weird...all floating around in my head.

When I get this way, I start feeling like a walking example of the Parable of the Sower, how the cares of this world can choke out the Word.

I resolved this afternoon to perambulate in prayer as I was going around, which I did, and I have to say I'm glad. Sometimes having a think and a prayer and a wander can do you a world of good.