I’ve heard it said more than once that the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body. While it’s true that the tongue is a muscle, it isn’t a single muscle. Instead, it consists of a group of muscles that help us taste our food, swallow, and talk.

According to WebMD, “a healthy tongue is pink and covered with small nodules called papillae.” If, however, your tongue is discolored or painful, it may signal problems with your health. WebMD linked tongue problems to possible conditions like “vitamin deficiencies, AIDS, or oral cancer. For this reason, it is important to seek medical advice if you have any ongoing problems with your tongue.”

The last sentence above reminds me of something written in the book of James: “ If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well . . . the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence—and is set on fire by hell.”

James tells us that the tongue has the power to:
• Direct (3:3-4)
• Destroy (3:5-8)
• Delight (3:9-12)

When you think of your tongue, think of it as the index to your heart. With this in mind, what does you tongue say about the health of your heart?

Here’s a thought to keep you thinking: Are you tongue tied or do you have a tidy tongue?