BBD 07.25.05 Tearing Apart
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
make this transition and during this time the old website will remain at the
current url http://www.theburningbush.org and the new website will be at the url
http://www.theburningbush.net. Both websites will remain active until the
transition is complete and new devotionals will be posted at the new
website. All of the devotionals written during 2005 are available there.
The new website url is http://www.theburningbush.net
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The Burning Bush Devotional
1,359 New Subscribers since November 2004
07.25.05
Tearing Apart
Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for
him. - Proverbs 29:20.
He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a
calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he
shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. - Proverbs 27:27-28.
In June of 2004, the Albany, New York firefighters made a mistake during a
training exercise. The firefighters were practicing the use of the Jaws of
Life and tore apart a minivan at the junk yard where the exercise was
supposed to take place. However, it was just a three-year-old vehicle, a
2002 Dodge Caravan, that just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong
time. The firefighters should have used another older vehicle for the
practice exercise. As a result, the city's share of the bill for the
destroyed minivan was $12,000.
Think of the shock of the owner of the minivan to discover that their
vehicle had been torn apart and destroyed. Even though it was a mistake, and
the firefighters were of course sorry, the damage had still been done. A
year later it appears the owner may receive compensation for the mistake but
there was still damage that cannot be repaired.
Have you ever said something to someone that you wish that you had not said?
I have. Have you ever attacked someone verbally and found out later that you
were wrong? I have. My mouth at times seems to have a mind of its own and
has spewed out words, which tore, I'm sure; at the heart of the person I was
attacking. The apostle James writes about the tongue, "Indeed, we put bits
in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look
also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds,
they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so
the tongue is a little member and boasts great things (James 3:3-5)."
The tongue can be a dangerous thing and can cause great damage if it is not
under control. James goes on to say, "Out of the same mouth proceed blessing
and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so (James 3:10)." The
tongue can be controlled.
The next time you are tempted to lash out verbally at someone remember the
mistake of the firefighters. Remember that when you tear into someone with
your tongue that you cause damage that is very difficult if not impossible
to repair. However, if you do find out you have torn into someone by
mistake - admit it. Tell them you are sorry and that you were wrong. It will
not completely repair the damage but it will help and it is the responsible
Christian thing to do.
Copyright © 2003-2005. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
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