Gauges

Ask anyone who knows about cars, and they’ll tell you it’s important to pay attention to your gauges. They tell you what’s going on under the hood, and can help diagnose problems with the car’s systems.

According to James 3, our tongue is a good spiritual gauge or meter. It can control our whole body and set the course for our life (James 3:6). As such, it can also serve as an indicator of how things are functioning “under the hood” in our lives. What is the direction our life is heading in? How close to Christ’s life are we walking? Our words are one indicator.

I’ve heard it said that “when you’re shaken, what comes out is what you’re really made of.” I’m not just talking about the words we use when calm, cool, and trying to put on a good face. I’m talking about what you say when someone cuts you off in traffic, or slanders you, or you don’t get your way. These are the moments when our faith is shown for what it is.

Christ-followers, let’s remember to keep a close eye on the “tongue gauge.” Our faith can never register on a higher scale than our words.