James 3:9-10 “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”
Here, James brings together my speech and my attitudes toward fellow human beings. The tongue can be a powerful force for good or “a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8b). Jesus taught that I must love my enemies and bless those who persecute me. I am never to curse them and forget their humanity even if they dehumanize me or others. This includes terrorists who commit atrocities, activists and bureaucrats who despise Christians and try to shut them out of public life, and abortionists who slaughter the most innocent and helpless of human beings.
Father, please continually remind me of the humanity of those who oppose you, of those who hate me for being your follower. You created these human beings; traces of your likeness still remain in them. I must remember that. While they are alive in this world there is still hope for the veil to be lifted, for blindness to turn to sight, and for bitter enemies to turn to you and receive your offer of forgiveness and rescue.