James 3:11-12

“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

James uses what is obvious in nature to make his concluding points and exhortation: the fruit reveals the source. Yes, there will be times when we all slip up with our speech, but James’ point makes it clear that a renewed heart should be known by renewed speech. If your heart is pure, out of it will come pure speech (Lk. 6:45), but the converse is just as true: when your words are defiled so is your heart.

Critical words come from a critical heart. Arrogant words come from an arrogant heart. Bitter words come from a bitter heart. There is no running away from this reality, friend, and so the question we all must face on a daily basis is this: what’s the condition of our heart? When you mess up and spew forth-unholy speech, you have to stop the presses immediately and ask God, like David did, to search your heart and reveal what is wrong at the source (Psalm 139:23-24).

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, that includes your tongue and consequently your speech. Has your heart been renewed? Has your mind been transformed? Has God replaced that heart of stone with a heart of flesh? Then fresh water should be flowing from that fresh source!