James 3 - The Power of Influence

Today, Friday November 27 - James 3:5-13 - Years ago I heard Zig Ziglar say, "The way to climb the ladder of success in life, is not by stepping on other people, but by pushing the people around you, up ahead of you, and you will get caught up in the draft!"  So often we step on other people, putting them down in the eyes of others, so we will look better, and we do this with our tongue.  Or we can use our little tongue to praise and speak well of those around us.  I can't always determine the cultural and social environment I'm placed in at work, at home or in the community, but I have the power of influence to use my presence and my tongue to begin to change it into a better place.  This is what James is speaking of here in this passage.  No one can control the tongue, especially the tongue of another person, but we can yield our life and tongue to the control of the Holy Spirit and be a person of influence that brings peace and sanity to the situation.  We might not have the power of position, but we all have the power of influence, and I'm convinced it is the greater power!  Today, seek the Wisdom from above by looking into God's Word and live a life of obedience.  God bless!