A Day-by-day devotional

January 13, 2023

Are You a Jellyfish?

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Job 40-42

Scripture of the Day: James 3:1-12

The jellyfish is just one of many invertebrate animals having the same mouth and anus. The small opening located at the center of its body both serves for feeding purposes and discarding waste.

Imagine as a human being, if God designed us like the jellyfish with only one body organ for eating and waste excretion! Thankfully, that isn’t the case. Nonetheless, if we come to think of it, the mouth that we use for praising God is the same mouth we use for cursing our neighbor. Words of worship come forth from our mouths. Yet, out of the same mouth we spew spite, slander and gossip against our fellowmen. Also, with the same mouth, we confess negative things about ourselves.

These days, it is pretty common to voice out one’s opinion on social media. We react to things that others do or say. Since it is readily within our grasp to do so, the thinking often doesn’t come ahead of the speaking anymore. We speak out of anger, hatred and spite. We speak without first giving a thought about what would proceed out of our mouths.

Paul admonishes us to not let corrupt talk come out of our mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29). Furthermore, Scripture warns us of the tongue’s power:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Proverbs 18:21). James vividly tells how out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing, and that it should not be so (James 3:10). In fact, Jesus Himself tells us that what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. On the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak. We will either be justified or condemned based on our words (Matthew 15:18; Matthew 12:36-37).

Take care of what comes out of your mouth. Let not the mouth from where holy praise to God comes out also be a source of foul and spiteful language. After all, you are not a jellyfish, are you?

Reflection: Have you thought of whether you use your mouth more for positive, hope-filled words or for negative confession and spite? Remember, with it, you could either build up or tear down one’s soul!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me the privilege of speech. Thank you that I can praise you with my lips. Help me to guard my words and enable me to speak only that which would bring glory to you. Whenever negative words form in my mind, help me to weigh the consequences and possible results first, before I voice them out. Moreover, may I be a vessel through which only blessing and not cursing shall come out. Amen.