James 3:5 It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. (The Message Bible)
I was a big fan of Smokey the Bear as a child. He taught us “Only you can prevent forest fires.” A forest fire is worth preventing. So is a house fire or a church fire or a community fire. We have smoke alarms in our houses and public buildings that let us know when such a fire is giving off enough smoke to be a problem. What sort of detectors do we have to tell us that our words are causing too much heat? If we can be careful about the little sparks or catch the fires early we may not have to deal with a destructive inferno and its aftermath. When are you prone to shoot of a spark or two that might catch fire? I bet your spouse could tell you or your kids or parents or best friend. Is it when you are tired or stressed or lonely or anxious? Might you pray before you spark? Or share your distress with a friend or loved one? The fires that singe relationships are worth preventing. Remember, only you can prevent forest fires. What will you do this week to give God access to your sparks?
Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church 