The Weekly Perspective
by TJ Draper, Deacon
The very first words in recorded Biblical history were spoken by God. “Then God said, “Let there be light.”
God spoke the world into existence. God’s word carries power. God speaks, and things come into being. God rules creation by the power of His word.
Now consider that man was made in the image of God. There are many aspects to that image bearing, but one of them is certainly that we have the power and ability to affect our world by what we say. We have the ability to build up or tear down. To some extent we also speak a reality into existence.
Adam, following after God, rules over the creation by speaking the name of each animal. He also speaks the name of the first Woman, given to Him by God.
But Adam then fails to rule and exercise the power of his word. He stood by silently while the serpent spoke deceitful words. He failed to exercise the authority given to Him by God by not exercising the tongue He was given.
In the epistle reading of James 3:1–12 this morning, James warns us about the nature of the sinful tongue. The tongue can spew forth powerful poison, which stands to reason since words are very powerful. And what’s more, as no part of humanity was untouched by the fall, our tongue, our words are certainly very affected by man’s sinful nature. James says, “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity… With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men… My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”
The exhortation from James is clear: Do not be as the first Adam. Be sure to exercise the power of your tongue righteously. Make sure the spring of your mouth brings forth fresh water, and not bitter water.