What’s something really small that has a lot of power? Perhaps a little plastic block when you step on it unexpectedly. Maybe the bit that goes in a horse’s mouth, which allows you to direct such a big and strong animal. Or maybe even a small rudder that sets the course for a huge boat. The Bible says there’s also something else that’s small but has great power: the tongue.

Everyone has a tongue. So everyone has something very powerful. And you’d think people, being the kind and decent folk we are, would use this powerful little instrument for great good. But we don’t. Sure, we say “Please” and “Thank you.” We can offer a word of encouragement or a compliment. We can even go to church and sing praises to God. But our tongues also wound and hurt. We talk back to those God has placed over us. We use our tongues to get our own way, to manipulate. When we’re angry, we say hurtful and unloving words that demean others who are created in God’s image. We gossip about people, repeating hurtful stories just because we like to be in the know. We lie, cuss, tell inappropriate jokes, and brag. James 3 says the tongue is “setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell” (3:6).

You might expect the Bible to tell us we need to tame these filthy tongues of ours; keep them under control. But that’s not what it says. Instead, it says “every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue” (3:7–8).

Our tongues might be the clearest evidence we need a Savior. Thank God we have such a Savior. And here’s the good news: when we trust the Savior, his Spirit comes into us and starts producing better fruit (see Gal. 5:22–24). Only the Holy Spirit can tame our tongues.