City Life Starter

1 Peter 3:9-12

9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,

Proverbs 26:1-3

1  Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
    honor is not fitting for a fool.
2  Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
    an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3  A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and a rod for the backs of fools!

Titus 2:11-13

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ

II. Reflection Questions:

1. Are you a critic or a coach?

2. Do you feel that you have tamed your tongue completely, or do you sense that you desperately need the Lord to season your words with grace and truth?

3. What steps can you take to crave God’s Word and store His wisdom in your heart so that you keep growing toward purity?

III. Commentary:

Located on the Northwest edge of Virginia and the adjacent region of West Virginia is a mountainous area known as Shenandoah Valley. It is an expansive area with forest-covered mountains, diverse wildlife, and fresh mountain streams. The many hiking trails that traverse the area occasionally pass next to one of the cool mountain streams, where hikers (and wildlife) may obtain fresh water. The well known Shenandoah National Park is also in this area. However, in the year 1864, the same Shenandoah Valley was a war zone for 6 months as the Union and Confederate forces fought a campaign series of battles as part of the Civil War, which had polarized the north and south states against each other. It seems strange today that such a beautiful valley was a place where people chose to kill each other.

James asks a question in order to help us realize the impossible: “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” (James 3:11). It is impossible for both fresh water and salt water to flow from the same spring, yet with the human mouth, we find that heavenly praise and hellish cursing flow from the same tongue. It is a true paradox that this can be, and a humbling reality that requires personal introspection, not fault finding in other people around us. A believer whose life is one with Christ is a sinner who has been redeemed. On one hand, the believer has been regenerated: given new life in Christ, with new purpose centered on God, new desires, new hope, and heavenly ambition. On the other, this individual still lives in this fallen world and has not yet been made fully perfect in Christ, and frequently falls short of God’s holy character.

You don’t have to go far out your front door to experience the reality that all of us on this earth is completely and thoroughly sinful, with only the exception of our Lord Jesus. The natural human way of meaningful existence is to repay evil with evil and to trade an insult for an insult, as is described in 1 Peter 3:9. The natural (unspiritual) individual has a tongue which James likens to the small rudder on a ship that causes the enormous ocean-going vessel to be steered wherever the ship’s captain deems necessary (James 3:4). A ship’s captain would never intentionally steer his ship into a harbor filled with explosive enemy mines. Yet people allow their tongues to be out of control and steer the course of their lives toward a path of destruction when they are without the knowledge of the Lord. What employee has ever truly prospered by cursing their boss? What person has ultimately benefited by telling poisonous, back-stabbing lies against another human being? (A person who is a fellow human being created in God’s image).

When James asks the reader whether a fig tree can bear olives (3:12), or a grapevine bear figs, he is asking something that is quite obvious by the laws of nature. Each tree or plant produces according to its kind. From our human perspective, it often seems so commonplace to hear someone give vent to their frustration, disgust, or hatred against another person or group of people. From the viewpoint of our sinful, earthly, fallen state it does not even surprise us to hear such cursing, unwholesome talk on a constant basis. 

Yet James is not writing from a merely human perspective; he is writing from a heavenly perspective, and with an expectation of nothing less than perfection in Christ. To be so completely changed in this way requires us to surrender to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said these words about the Holy Spirit: “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” (John 16:7-11).

Peter tells us in the above Scripture that if we want to see eternal life, we must turn away from evil and do good. Evil is not limited to the act of capital murder; it is in every human heart in this world until Christ changes and remakes the heart. “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,” Peter says. He is watching over the way of those He loves. Do not worry if you think that you have no ability to control your tongue and to speak words that build up others. Keep walking toward the light. Keep reaching upward. Stretch out your hand toward Jesus’ outstretched hand. Keep turning your ears toward His voice. You are His child if you belong to Him, and He promises that His eye is upon you to guide you and keep you continually. He is good!

Paul tells us in Titus that the grace of God teaches us to say no to ungodliness. Saying “no” does not come naturally, but is taught spiritually when God’s grace opens the eyes of our hearts, showing us the good way to live and giving us a favor with God that we couldn’t have known otherwise. There is a blessed hope, Paul writes to Titus: It is the glorious, future appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. Since His coming is so certain, we need to live in godliness and keep our words honoring to Him.

If you sense that you have hurt someone with your words, do everything in your ability to make it right with the other person, while covering the relationship in prayer. God will honor your actions if you do it in obedience to Him. Ask Him to search your heart, and to keep your way pure.

IV. Prayer: 

Almighty Lord, my Heavenly Father, the One who loves me with a perfect love even when I was dead in my sins, thank you for giving me new life in Christ Jesus. Give me your grace and wisdom to guard the words of my mouth. Let me speak only words that are true, pure, honorable, and that edify other people around me. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life. Lord let my mouth be yours to show your overflowing fountain of life. Search my heart and show me every area that I need to change more like Jesus. Glory ever be Yours alone. Amen.