Dual Gatekeepers

~~~ James 1:19-27 ~~~ Psalm 15 ~~~ Mark 8:22-26 ~~~

The readings given to us today make me think of
those affected with mental illness and those who are getting senile.

James tells us that if you only hear the word
and do not put them into action you are..
...like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror.
He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets
what he looked like.

Unfortunately some diseases of the mind, in their advance stage, robs
the person from recognizing themselves and others.
James humbly welcome the word into your heart,
but it is not to stagnate there.
The words in your heart must root and flourish
blossoming through your actions.

The words of the Lord or equivalent to your list of action items
generated at any business meeting.

Looking up the man replied, 
“I see people looking like trees and walking.”

This statement is not intended
to be an observation about someone who is delusional.
Perhaps it is referencing someone who needs corrective glasses.
We all have the experience in our lives of not being able to see clearly.
God takes his time to fully open our eyes...
to sharpen our vision.
God needs us to be patient...to wait...
to wait for his timing.
He alone will correct our vision.
The vision with which he wants us to see the world.
His vision, with his eyes.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue

but deceives his heart, his religion is vain.

Along with this hearing and clear vision comes our tongue.
God rightly gave us teeth and lips to guard our tongue.
The tongue needs dual gatekeepers and that is often not enough.

Some believe that the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body.
When you think about it we need to use our tongue
 immediately when we are born.
We need our tongue to suckle.
The tongue is also the most flexible muscle.
Flexible...it can be used to build up
or to tear down another person.

The heart is also a strong contender for the strongest muscle in the body.
The heart begins to beat soon after conception.

Too many times our wagging tongue
breaks done the gates and deceives the heart.

...to keep oneself unstained by the world...

means we must let our words
come from his words
that have been fixed in our heart.

God Blesses us with his words so that we can in-turn
bless others with his words.

Peace.