Devotion 27 October 2026

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. James 1:26

READING: James 3

James writes that “the tongue is a fire” and that a small flame can set a great forest ablaze (James 3:5–6). Proverbs is equally direct: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Rev. Charity Tozivepi-Nzegwu reminds us that speech is never merely sound; “Words shape how people are seen, whose testimony is trusted, and what a community is prepared to call true”.

This is so true at present in our country, engaged with local political elections. Globally, too, politicians and those who hold power over social media use words and catch phrases to shape our thinking.

Not only words, but the manner in which they are spoken, is powerful. One person may raise a concern and be dismissed as aggressive, then another person may repeat almost the same words and be praised for their wisdom.

Polite courtesy can change lives, but conversely, demand for civility can also become a method of control, especially when it is used to quieten those telling truth to power. ‘Manners’ and ‘behaviour’ can also train some people to remain silent.

The battle of the mouth is also the struggle within us, between truth and exaggeration, courage and self-righteousness, necessary anger and the temptation to humiliate. We can become so certain of our own moral clarity that we cease listening and wound people who have less power than we do.

Even when we are certain that we have the moral high ground, we are still capable of prejudice, distortion, cruelty, and self-deception. We can, for example, find ourselves exposing another person’s failure publicly, not because public speech is necessary, but because it is satisfying.

Jesus used sharp words. In Matthew 23, Jesus called religious leaders “blind guides” and “whitewashed tombs”. This was not soft language. However, Jesus did not use powerful speech to crush those already beneath the weight of society, but to expose leaders whose outward respectability concealed corruption, whose power harmed others. He restored speech to people whom society had reduced to silence.

In daily life, learning to use words wisely comes from focusing more on the inner life than on the tongue itself, more on the source than its outflow.

Prayer

God of truth and wisdom, examine the words we speak and the silences we keep. Guard us from speech that humiliates, distorts, or protects our innocence. Give us courage to name injustice, humility to recognise our own capacity to wound, and wisdom to know when to speak and when to wait. May our words make room for truth. May our listening restore dignity. May our actions bear witness to the peace we so easily proclaim. Amen