OUR FATHER COUNSELS CONTROL OF OUR WORDS

Mathew chapter 14 verse 9 says this;

The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 

This verse describes the moment when king Herod, having publically promised his step-daughter anything she wished, was informed that she wanted the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

King Herod found himself in a political quandary.  He had imprisoned John the Baptist but had dared not kill him because the people believed John was a prophet from God but now, he had boastfully declared that he would grant anything his stepdaughter wished and she asked for John to be killed.

Herod could not retract his promise.

His hand had been forced by his own words and he had to order that John the Baptist be executed even though it was a politically dangerous action to take.

As James chapter 3 verses 4 - 6 says;

Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

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. 

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.

Lord have mercy on us.

Amen.

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