CATCH UP

We’re into the third week/third chapter in our study of James’ letter to Christians everywhere

James is determined to help Christians grow in faith > grow into mature Christians

He wants us to stand firm > hold on to our faith in the face of adversity

He wants us to pay attention to what’s going on around us > help those in need

In essence > he wants Christians to mature in faith

he want them to balance faith with action

they cannot any more have faith without action than they can have action without faith

As I mentioned the first week > Peterson says James is writing to The Church of Murphy’s Law

A congregation where everything that can go wrong has gone wrong at worst possible time

Chapter 3 gives strong clue about what is going wrong and how it is happening

(i.e., some people have opened their mouths before engaging their brains!)

first he addresses teachers, then moves quickly to the rest of them

Read James 3:1-12

STORY ABOUT TONGUES

Oh, the power of the tongue!

There is a story that teaches us a lesson about the power of the tongue

It’s a story that has floated around for generations > nobody knows its origin

The Power of the Tongue

A group of frogs were hopping contentedly through the woods, going about their froggy business, when two of them fell into a deep pit. [Imagine you are one of those frogs!] All of the other frogs gathered around the pit to see what could be done to help their companions. When they saw how deep the pit was, they agreed that it was hopeless and told the two frogs in the pit that they should prepare themselves for their fate, because they were as good as dead.

Unwilling to accept this terrible fate, the two frogs began to jump with all of their might. Some of the frogs shouted into the pit that it was hopeless, and that the two frogs wouldn't be in that situation if they had been more careful, more obedient to the froggy rules, and more responsible.
The other frogs continued sorrowfully shouting that they should save their energy and give up, since they were already as good as dead.

The two frogs continued jumping with all their might, and after several hours of this, were quite weary. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to the calls of his fellow frogs. Exhausted, he quietly resolved himself to his fate, lay down at the bottom of the pit, and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could, although his body was wracked with pain and he was quite exhausted. Once again, his companions began yelling for him to accept his fate, stop the pain and just die. The weary frog jumped harder and harder and, wonder of wonders, finally leaped so high that he sprang from the pit. Amazed, the other frogs celebrated his freedom and then gathering around him asked, "Why did you continue jumping when we told you it was impossible?"

The astonished frog “I was so far down in the pit that I couldn’t hear what you said! I could see that you were shouting, and I thought you were cheering me on! I thought you were trying to encourage me, and that’s what kept me going!

LESSON IN THIS STORY

This story of the frogs and the Letter of James carry an important message for us

This message is summed up in The Book of Proverbs

"There is death and life in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21 )

We don’t know what people in James’ congregation were saying to unleash his words

But we do know that encouraging words can lift someone up >help them make it through the day.
And the opposite is also true

Destructive words can cause deep wounds

They may be the weapons that destroy someone's desire to keep on trying

or even their desire to live.

Critical, careless word can tear down someone in the eyes of others

destroy their influence among the people

and have a lasting impact on the way others respond to them

On this Sunday when Christians all over the world share this sacred meal

and the Sunday when WE receive the Peacemaking Offering

it is good to remember the power of the words that can roll off your tongue

Use your words to speak life to those who cross your path

If you have words of kindness, praise or encouragement - speak them now!

Speak them to others, and speak them about others
Someone, somewhere, is waiting for YOUR words