Beyond the Weekend

June 19 | Bridled Speech

June 19, 2018

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. James 1:26

Read: James 1:26

Listen: James 1

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Believers in the early church needed only one “bridle.” Their speech was primarily verbal, so the only bridle they needed was for their tongues. James understood that the tongue is the most reliable indicator of a Godly life. A tongue that’s critical, sarcastic or gossips is evidence of what’s in the heart (Luke 6:45). Today, we need that bridle and at least one more. We need one bridle for our speech and one for what we post online.

Snapchat. Twitter. Instagram. Facebook. Social media provides us unending opportunities to broadcast the condition of our heart. As Emerson Eggerichs writes in the book, Before You Hit Send: Preventing Headache and Heartache, there are four questions we should ask ourselves before speaking or posting: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it clear? Asking and answering these questions honestly helps us avoid self-deception. Then, we prove that what we believe has real value.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Take a sticky note and write Eggerichs’ four questions on it. Then place it on or near the device (computer, tablet, phone) you use to access social media. Let it bridle your online speech as a reminder that what you post online is a reliable indicator of what’s in your heart.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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