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 NIV

Ouch.

I just say things. 

Last night I said something about someone that just didn't need to be said.

It might even have been true.

Level 4 can make us a bit tetchy or sad, or anxious, or annoyed...or all of the above. But James was writing to Christians scattered, living under the rules others made for them, and still says what I say is important.

James is telling me that I deceived myself. What I said was true (mostly true) so that made it OK to say. 

If I run down the 1 Cor 13 checklist on what Love is, I was self seeking & I was not kind. 

I'd deceived myself. 

While James is concerned about what I say, it's my heart he's after, and wants me to know how self deceptive I am.

v25 encourages me to keep looking intently into God's word, not just a surface read, but allowing it to speak to my heart. 

To shape me.

To change me, bit by bit.

#level4

#itsaheartthing

#Godsgym