MIGHTY SMALL

Let's talk about tiny or small things.

Dust is so minute, yet it can sting your eye and cause severe itching and redness the more you try to dislodge it with your big fist.

The picture of a tiny baby---a fetus to be precise---can summon oohhs! and aahhs! and dozens of "Oh, how cute!" "Amazing!" comments in one's Facebook entry. What more could a cute bouncing bundle of joy do to us? "Nakakagigil!" And we go gaga over her!

Imagine termites and locusts wreaking havoc on properties and plantations. Can you believe the sometimes deadly effect of allergens on our health?

Small things. We treat them either with care (Oh, they're so fragile! Shush, the baby needs her nap!), caution (Careful, you may get a cold!) or fear (Let's pray the bird flu never reaches our shores!).

The tongue is tiny too but deadly!

The bible compares the tongue to the rudder of a ship. Today's ships, especially cruise liners, are so humongous, you'd think they're cities roaming the seas. Imagine small rudders turning these monstrous ships around.

That's how powerful the tongue is. It can cause a mountain of troubles (James 3:5-6)---just like a great forest being set on fire by a small spark. It is also described as "a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body, corrupting the whole body."

It says further (v 7-8): All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

It is strange, James says, that we praise God with our tongue yet curse others with it.

Can you recall the times you courted trouble because of an irresponsible remark? I'd been in a lot of hot water because of things that I said which I couldn't take back anymore. If only I could swallow back those words. But what had been said already did the harm.

Imagine marriages being broken because of harsh words. "It is better to live at the corner of a roof than with a nagging woman," says one proverb.

Imagine children scarred forever because of some irresponsible parents' relentless tongue lashing. "You will amount to nothing." "You're an idiot." We've heard these words a lot.

We definitely can't tame this tongue, no matter how small it is. But its Maker can.

If Jesus is indeed our Lord and Savior, He has given us the Holy Spirit to teach us to "Hold it!" "Zip it!" "Don't spew that venom!"

Taming the tongue is not about our being able to control ourselves. It's about allowing Jesus to be in control.

If you've given your heart to Jesus, He will replace our well of words with those that are wholesome, life-giving, kind, loving; and remove those which are vengeful, hateful, judgmental and which might cause others pain. And maybe allow you to undo the hurts caused by previously carelessly spoken words.

"I love you!" "You've done well." "You are so gifted." "You can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens you!" "God loves you." Imagine these words making someone's day today.

Don't be deceived by tiny. Be overcome instead with His mighty amazing grace.