The source of the tongue is the heart

Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Church-goers have been singing this hymn since 1897. We sing similar ones every Sunday.

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Read this again.

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Why is this important?

Because it is the source of what comes out of our mouths.

Can you imagine a Church that does not grieve the Holy Spirit set in the context of how we speak to one another or about each other?

Can you imagine a Church that copies God and loves like He loved us at the cross?

Can you imagine a Church which pleases the Lord because out of our mouths flow kindness?

Can you imagine every Christian’s social media posts, texts, emails, phone calls, coffee meetings are filled with gracious words?

Can you imagine this for you?

How can our mouths boast? How can we talk about ourselves so much? How can we attribute what we say as from the Lord when it is all about us? If we were banned from ever talking about ourselves what would we say? Would the world be a quieter place if we were banned from talking negatively about anyone?

For the formation of Christ to be seen and known in our lives then it will happen through our speech and for that to happen it will be birthed in our hearts.

What would it look like if every word that came from a Christian’s mouth was not for their gain or for the demise of others but for Jesus Christ and the good of other people? We could and if we did then perhaps we would see consecration.

The central message of James is indeed this whole point. The heart.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” (James 3 v 13-16)

If God is truly moving in a Church then we will hear a different sound. What is the sound of your life?

We can hold to a sound that has embedded in our life for many years. It was born in hurt and pain and it crystallised and the words that flow now flow from that place. We need to unlock our heart. We need to change our prayers. We need to use new vocabulary. We need to search again. We need to focus on something new of the nature of God. He is a God of new things. A new day has to be a new sound that comes from a heart that is healed.

James will have much to teach us. But today surrender your heart to Him and move into a new sound for your life.