The external help or cure is found in Jesus’ blood and righteousness, which makes a sinner’s filthy heart as white as snow (Psalm 51:10 Isaiah 1:18 Ezekiel 36:26 Ephesians 1:7 Hebrews 9:13-14).Ī transformed heart springs forth true godliness displaying heavenly wisdom. We are in need of inoculation of God’s transforming grace to treat the soul-rotting virus of sin. Therefore the work of transforming has to be done by something outside of ourselves. Transformation of the heart cannot be self-generated because the root cause that needs to be addressed is at the very core of a person. The trouble of our hurtful words is much deeper than words themselves, as James writes… “no one can tame the tongue it is restless evil and full of poison.” What automatically comes out of us is toxic and destructive, unless God redemptively transforms it. ![]() 15:11),” and “It is out of the overflow of one’s heart that mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).” Jesus’ statement confirms James’ words “It is not what goes inside a man that defiles a man, but what comes out of his mouth (Matt. Clearly there is an undeniable conflict, and it is not conflict that is from outside of us, but from the very inner core of our being - a heart broken and marred by sin. As James points out, “with it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God” (Jas. The tongue is a powerful instrument and can affect many lives for the better, but often for worse. In the same way, as James writes, tongue may be a small part, but can boast of great things (3:5), and the will, the intention, and the heart of a person are the command center that ultimately control the tongue. “Put another way, the spoken word is an impartation of a person to the listener.” However, when a jockey puts a bit into a horse or a sailor takes control of a rudder, this powerful animal and large ship can be controlled or a course can be determined. By themselves, bits and rudders have no power. When James describes tongue, he uses the imagery of a bit in horse’s mouth and a rudder in a large ship. That is why an empty promise and vain flattery are devastating to those that hold on to them - they have no intrinsic value and are worthless. It contains the heart and soul of the person. Put another way, the spoken word is an impartation of a person to the listener. ![]() In spoken words there is identity another voice behind the words. James doesn’t dumb down or dilute this organ’s potency by any measure and, in fact, we see its repercussions in the world today.Īs much as written words hold power and influence the course of history, spoken words seem to have greater impact. I recently finished preaching through James 3, and I was reminded again of the power of the tongue. So, when a performer is able to express and communicate the voice within the voice it becomes true artistry at work (as subjective as this may be). Somehow in the voice that sings a note, there is yet another “self” or voice within. ![]() Even if a person is able to accomplish such replication, it is imitation at best, and the imitator is often criticized for not having his or her own soul in the performance. It is such that no two singers can sing the same song exactly the same. Then in the performance, every note played or sung is colored by the musician’s experiences, not to mention his or her physical, mental, or emotional state. Adding expression and following dynamic marks help the performer to play with the intent of the composer. ![]() Good music is more than mere notes drawn on staves. It has been updated and republished here with permission from the author. Editor’s Note: This piece was originally published here.
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