**Daily Devotional** **October 13** *1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. - James 3:1-2 (KJV)* The Greek word translated “masters” in this verse, literally means “an instructor”, and other translations of the bible translate this word as teacher. So what this is saying is for us to not all seek to be teachers of God’s word, as the teachers will receive a stricter judgment of their actions, than other saints. Even though we, as born again believers, will not be judged by the Old Testament Law, we will stand accountable under the law of liberty (James 2:12), and will be judged for the things that we teach. The bible places a lot of emphasis on the words that we speak, as they contain either life or death (Proverbs 18:20-21), and so the teachers are accountable for a lot of words they speak in behalf of the Lord. The more that you are given by the Lord, the more you are held responsible for (Luke 12:48), and so teachers will be held responsible for more of their actions than most saints. James wrote that the tongue was an unruly member of the body (James 3:8), and here he is saying that if you can control your tongue, you can control your whole body, and are a perfect man. How true it is that we all tend to say things that offend others, without even thinking about it. Whether intentional or not, words that offend others, are against what Jesus has taught us, and should not ever be uttered out of our mouths. A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1). Love is the answer to all our problems, so love one another with God’s AGAPE love, that He has given us in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) – praise God. Devotional by Pastor Joe W. Green, www.infinite-faith.com