A consecrated tongue comes from a consecrated heart.
So how do we know if we have a consecrated heart? It is by what flows out of our lives. What are the decisions and what are the reasons behind those decisions that we are making? And James has a list that we need to think on.
“But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3 v 14-18)
Bitter envy – This is not being jealous of other people’s lives. James is continually thinking of our relationships with God and others being very closely linked. This bitter envy or jealousy is the thought of someone else rising above you to do what you are doing, taking over from you, being used by God equal or even better than you.
Selfish ambition – The words translated refers to those who are more than ready to fight for their rights if they feel threatened by someone. They are quick to make sure their position to be weakened in any way. ‘People don’t walk over me, I’ve got my rights’. The desire to be seen, respected, to get to the top by pushing every door possible open.
Boastful – To explain away the wrongs you have committed and to even boast that the wrong committed is not as bad as the wrongs committed against you.
Denying the truth – Being out of step with the Bible and a manipulation to fit our lives is the pathway of self-deception.
But there is a divine wisdom thank God! This is how we know we have a consecrated heart.
Pure – It clears our vision to see God at work in everything we do.
Peace-loving – We don’t start the arguments or maintain them. When Divine wisdom fills our hearts then peace-loving enters which helps heal relationships rather than tear them apart.
Considerate – It is to be tolerant of people where their behaviour is perhaps different to ours.
Submissive – Being open to reason. It is the opposite of stubborn. A willingness to be persuaded. Can you give serious thought to an opinion or a plan that differs from yours without feeling threatened or getting angry?
Full of mercy and Good fruit – A compassionate attitude with actions that naturally flow from it. It is not just to feel for those who suffer but it is towards those who have brought the problems on themselves and to go towards them with mercy, this is the good fruit.
Impartial – Unwavering believers faithfully sticking to the principles in the Bible regardless of the circumstances. The person is decisive and not afraid to make those decisions based on God’s Word.
Sincere – Not hypocritical, not wearing masks or pretending to be what you’re not. You’re not deceptive but completely and simply honest.
It is quite a list. It is what flows from a consecrated heart. When the Divine wisdom impacts our hearts this is what doesn’t flow and what does flow. It may not last long and we will need many encounters of God throughout our lives to remedy this. But James says this is the evidence.
My vertical relationship with God will always be demonstrated by my horizontal relationships.
Missions Paul 