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"Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark" - James 3:5
There was a chill in the air as the winds off the lake blew through the corridor of buildings. People were milling about late in the evening after attending afternoon family gatherings and picnics near the lake. There weren't many weekends left before the first snow fell upon the city. Patrick had just come inside and was getting ready for bed when he glanced out the side window of his house on Dekoven Street, and saw the orange hews surrounding his small barn in the back yard.
As he ran from the home, he realized there was nothing that could be done to without help. The barn was engulfed in flames rising quickly to the skies. The embers from the hay and wood were getting caught up in the winds and drawing closer to his home and that of his neighbor. The immediate shock delayed his reaction to contact the authorities immediately. In 1871, it wasn't as simple as dialing 911 on a cell phone. A local pharmacist saw the blaze above the roof line from a block away and immediately pulled on the fire alarm, which resulted in a ringing throughout the neighborhood.
The Great Chicago fire started from a simple spark in the barn of Patrick O'Leary at or around 9PM on Sunday, October 8th. By the time the firefighters were able to respond, the fire had spread and engulfed blocks of the great metropolitan city. Once it starts, stopping it becomes a huge challenge. It spread over 4 miles of land in downtown Chicago, leaving over 90,000 (1/3rd of population) people homeless, and 100's of people lost their lives. Massive destruction takes place from the smallest catalyst.
Such is the case when words leave your lips. The effect of negative, derogatory, inflammatory and gossip language can spark a raging fire of bitterness and destruction in the lives of others. Be careful with the words that come from your mouth my friend. The sure way to minimize the impact of living for Christ is to be careless with your tongue. Countless times I have been called a hypocrite based on saying one thing, yet acting in a completely different way. This presents a stereotype of Christians as being hypocrites and impedes the growth of His righteousness.
Especially in today's world of mass communication and hyper speed data movement. As the words leave my lips they have the potential to be posted to Youtube and become viral in minutes. People in S. Africa, New Zealand and Singapore hear the words that might have been said in confidence to someone in Houston, Tx. It makes it that much more important to be cautious before making bold statements. We all slip at times and wish we could take back what we've said. Therefore it's important to minimize these situations. One way to ensure that you can overcome this risk is to ensure that your heart and mind are filled with His word. For where love, righteousness and good exist such will be communicated to others. I hope the words of my heart are taken in loving kindness and counsel today. Seek His ways in your actions and fill your lips with His praise and commands.
© Sondove Enterprises, 2012
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