40 Days of Words
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days of Words
Day 30 | OUR DUPLICITOUS TONGUES | James 3:9-10
40 Days of Words
Day 30 | OUR DUPLICITOUS TONGUES | James 3:9-10
OUR DUPLICITOUS TONGUES
James 3:9-10
“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.”
I like the book of James. (Of course, it was named after me, right? Well, maybe not.) But James is, in many ways, the Proverbs-like practical book of the New Testament.
This section of James 1 reminds us that EVERY person you and I meet – no matter how vile they might be – was made in the image of God, even if they don’t realize it or accept it as truth.
I like the way the TPT version expands our understanding of James 3:9-10 says:
“We use our tongue to praise God our Father] and then turn around and curse a person who was made in his very image! Out of the same mouth we pour out words of praise one minute and curses the next. My brothers and sisters, this should never be!”
The AMP version adds this: “[for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts].”
So what’s the take-away here?
As followers of Jesus, we need to remind ourselves that everyone we meet – whether we like them or not, whether we agree with them politically or not, whether they share our faith or not – is MADE in the image of God. And WE – you and I – have a moral obligation before God to always speak words that reflect our adoration and worship of Yahweh, AND his rules, precepts, and commands.
Jesus taught us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself.” That love can start with our words.
Prayer: Lord, may everyone I meet sense something different about me and the words I speak. And may that difference be because I’m one of Your children, and I’m speaking to please YOU. Amen.
James 3:9-10
“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.”
I like the book of James. (Of course, it was named after me, right? Well, maybe not.) But James is, in many ways, the Proverbs-like practical book of the New Testament.
This section of James 1 reminds us that EVERY person you and I meet – no matter how vile they might be – was made in the image of God, even if they don’t realize it or accept it as truth.
I like the way the TPT version expands our understanding of James 3:9-10 says:
“We use our tongue to praise God our Father] and then turn around and curse a person who was made in his very image! Out of the same mouth we pour out words of praise one minute and curses the next. My brothers and sisters, this should never be!”
The AMP version adds this: “[for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts].”
So what’s the take-away here?
As followers of Jesus, we need to remind ourselves that everyone we meet – whether we like them or not, whether we agree with them politically or not, whether they share our faith or not – is MADE in the image of God. And WE – you and I – have a moral obligation before God to always speak words that reflect our adoration and worship of Yahweh, AND his rules, precepts, and commands.
Jesus taught us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself.” That love can start with our words.
Prayer: Lord, may everyone I meet sense something different about me and the words I speak. And may that difference be because I’m one of Your children, and I’m speaking to please YOU. Amen.
Recent
Categories
Archive
2026
February
40 Days with Jesus - 0140 Days with Jesus - 0240 Days with Jesus - 0340 Days with Jesus - 0440 Days with Jesus - 0540 Days with Jesus - 0640 Days with Jesus - 0740 Days with Jesus - 0840 Days with Jesus - 0940 Days with Jesus - 1040 Days with Jesus - 1140 Days with Jesus - 1240 Days with Jesus - 1340 Days with Jesus - 1440 Days with Jesus - 1540 Days with Jesus - 1640 Days with Jesus - 1740 Days with Jesus - 1840 Days with Jesus - 1940 Days with Jesus - 20
2025
January
40 DAYS OF NEW - 0340 DAYS OF NEW - 0440 DAYS OF NEW - 0540 DAYS OF NEW - 0640 DAYS OF NEW - 0740 DAYS OF NEW - 0840 DAYS OF NEW - 0940 DAYS OF NEW - 1040 DAYS OF NEW - 1140 DAYS OF NEW - 1240 DAYS OF NEW - 1340 DAYS OF NEW - 1440 DAYS OF NEW - 1540 DAYS OF NEW - 1640 DAYS OF NEW - 1740 DAYS OF NEW - 1840 DAYS OF NEW - 1940 DAYS OF NEW - 2040 DAYS OF NEW - 2140 DAYS OF NEW - 2240 DAYS OF NEW - 2340 DAYS OF NEW - 2440 DAYS OF NEW - 25
February
40 DAYS OF NEW - 2640 DAYS OF NEW - 2740 DAYS OF NEW - 2840 DAYS OF NEW - 2940 DAYS OF NEW - 3040 DAYS OF NEW - 3140 DAYS OF NEW - 3240 DAYS OF NEW - 3340 DAYS OF NEW - 3440 DAYS OF NEW - 3540 DAYS OF NEW - 3640 DAYS OF NEW - 3740 DAYS OF NEW - 3840 DAYS OF NEW - 3940 DAYS OF NEW - 4040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 05
March
40 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0640 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 0940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1540 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1640 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1740 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1840 DAYS OF PROMISE - 1940 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2040 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2140 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2240 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2340 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2440 DAYS OF PROMISE - 2540 DAYS OF PROMISE - 26