Offending not in word

Jas 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Imagine not offending anyone by what we say. Seriously, imagine it.

Right now stop and think of the last time you offended someone by something you said, can you remember it? Unfortunately it's all too easy for me to remember the last time I said something that offended someone. I'm not talking about speaking truth and offending by the truth, I'm talking about every day speaking with those around us. And so what if the other party is easily offended, that's NOT the issue here, that's not an excuse for us to use. Offending in word. Our mouths, our tongues, our lips, our speech, the words that come from our thoughts spilling outwards and offending. It doesn't have to be intentionally offending. I didn't set out to offend anyone, and most of the time we do NOT set out to offend it just comes out unexpectedly from perhaps being wounded by something the other person said or did. Something caused it, perhaps a hormonal imbalance, or low blood sugar, or… I could go on and on but does it really matter what causes the offending? Excuses - legitimate or not are still excuses. Honestly there really, truly is no excuse for speaking offensively is there? Would Jesus offend? Some might said He offended a lot of people and they'd be right, but they were offended by the truth, not by any hurtful words of our Savior.

'If any man offend NOT in word…

…the same is a PERFECT man.'

A perfect man. We are so far from perfect aren't we?

This perfect man can bridle his whole body!

I truly can only imagine that because I feel so incredibly far from being any where near this perfection spoken of.

The fiery furnace of trials seems to be burning hotly all around me lately as more and more of my imperfections are exposed. I pray that God keep me through all the fires, that He protects my eternal life while stripping me of the evil flesh I possess. I pray that He sees Christ's righteousness as I cling to my Savior, whose grace alone can save me.

I pray for Him to KEEP THE DOOR OF MY LIPS!

Psa 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Jas 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.


Offend not in word.

By the grace of God!

Amen.