The Spark that Ignites Fires

The entire nation witnessed the tragedy of the Pacific Palisades fire that ignited on January 7, 2025.  Although that was almost a year ago, residents and businesses are still trying to dig out and recover.  What many lost is irrecoverable, and those familiar with the area’s former beauty are doubtful it will ever regain its original charm.  Because our son and his wife lived right next door, we had the joy of exploring the area pre-fire, and now feel extreme sadness for those who had called it home.  It is mind-numbing to consider the damage a small spark can do.

This reality makes it all the more poignant that James, half-brother of Jesus, used the analogy of a small spark setting an entire forest ablaze in describing the human tongue.  “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:6)  He goes on to say in verse 8, “but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

Everywhere today, we see the disrespect and disregard people exercise toward one another.  Most seem to believe they have a “right” to speak without censure whatever is on their minds as a matter of their free speech.  But, freedom of speech does not mean we have the right to curse, denigrate, belittle, marginalize, or lie about others.  The alarming thing about the perpetrators of this activity is there seems little difference between those who know Christ and those who don’t.  James was actually addressing believers when he said in verses 9 and 10, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”  Perhaps guilty Christ-followers don’t realize they are actually insulting Creator God while exercising judgmentalism and self-righteousness.

The freedom of speech we are guaranteed by our Constitution is for the expression of ideas and beliefs where the intent is building one another up through respectful discourse.  Peter addressed this very specifically in one of his letters. “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 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, ‘Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.’” (1 Peter 3:8-10)

Blessing comes through obedience to speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:14-15).  Blessing others with our mouths combats curses, and is, in fact, a positive spark.  Little did the patriarch, Jacob, know when he wrestled with God and demanded a blessing, that it was the spark that would perpetuate God’s covenant with Abraham, leading to the birth of Jesus Whose sacrifice for our sins would set our hearts on fire for Him.  Let us be like Jeremiah who wrestled with God over speaking His Word to His countrymen, “But if I say, “I will not mention His Word or speak anymore in His Name, His Word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in, indeed, I cannot.” (Jeremiah 20:9)

Lord, set our hearts on fire with Your love in an intensity that cannot be held in, but tames and repurposes our tongues to be the spark of Your praise.