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Dexu Xia

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May 25, 2018, 12:54:01 AM5/25/18

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The Point of No Return

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body. James 3:6

It wasn’t as simple as just crossing another river. By law, no Roman general could lead armed troops into Rome. So when Julius Caesar led his Thirteenth Legion across the Rubicon River and into Italy in 49 bc, it was an act of treason. The impact of Caesar’s decision was irreversible, generating years of civil war before Rome’s great general became absolute ruler. Still today, the phrase “crossing the Rubicon” is a metaphor for “passing the point of no return.”

Sometimes we can cross a relational Rubicon with the words we say to others. Once spoken, words can’t be taken back. They can either offer help and comfort or do damage that feels just as irreversible as Caesar’s march on Rome. James gave us another word picture about words when he said, “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” (James 3:6).

When words become weapons, our relationships soon become casualties.

When we fear we have crossed a Rubicon with someone, we can seek their forgiveness—and God’s (Matthew 5:23–24; 1 John 1:9). But even better is to daily rest in God’s Spirit, hearing Paul’s challenge, “Let your conversation be always full of grace” (Colossians 4:6), so that our words will not only honor our Lord, but lift up and encourage those around us.

Lord, please guard my heart and my words today. May I speak only words that please You and bring health and healing to others.

Read What Do You Do with a Broken Relationship? at discoveryseries.org/q0703.

When words become weapons, our relationships soon become casualties.

无可回头

舌头就是火，在我们百体中，舌头是个罪恶的世界，能污秽全身。-雅各书3章6节

越过卢比孔河不只是指渡河到对岸。古罗马帝国的法律规定，将领不能率领武装部队进入罗马。所以，在公元前49年，当凯撒带领他麾下的第13军团，越过卢比孔河进入意大利时，就是叛变行为。凯撒所做的决定造成无可挽回的影响，以致罗马在他夺取统治权之前，历经好几年的内战。直至今日，“越过卢比孔河”仍用来隐喻“逾越界限，无可回头”。

有时，我们说出口的言语，也可能会逾越人际关系的卢比孔河。一言既出，驷马难追，说出口的言语可能让人得帮助与安慰，也可能让人受伤，有如凯撒向罗马进军那般，造成无法挽回的伤害。雅各描绘了一幅关于言语的图像，他说：“舌头就是火，在我们百体中，舌头是个罪恶的世界，能污秽全身，也能把生命的轮子点起来，并且是从地狱里点着的。”（雅各书3章6节）

若我们觉得自己跨越了别人的卢比孔河，就应该请求对方的原谅，以及上帝的赦免（马太福音5章23-24节；约翰一书1章9节）。但防范胜于治疗，更好的方法是，每日倚靠上帝的灵，并且听取保罗的建议：“你们的言语要常常带着和气”（歌罗西书4章6节），好让我们的言语不仅能荣耀主，还能鼓舞和激励身边的人。

主啊，求祢今天保守我的心与我口中的言语。
愿我只说合祢心意，又能带给人激励与安慰的话语。