DAY 24: Pure and undefiled religion
Reading: James 1:19-27
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Our words must match our deeds, or more particularly our deeds must
live up to our words. While Luther may not have thought much of
the letter of James, it contains some very strong words about how we
conduct ourselves as Christians.
To simply listen to the word of God and let it pass over us means that
we are deceiving ourselves. So as we see need, we are expected
to respond to it. Developing a caring ministry is as important in our
desire to become disciples as controlling our desires and our tongues.
This is always easier said than done but, as the writer records, ‘religion
that is pure and undefiled is to care for the orphans and widows and
those in distress’. As we care for those around us, we are expressing
externally and in a practical way what God has done in our lives. So
may the love of God flow out through our lives and into the lives of
others through our generous and loving response.
For Further reading: Luke 10:25-37 - Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan.
To Ponder: On what occasions during the past few weeks have you responded
in a practical way to someone’s need? What did you do?
To Pray: May the love of God flow through me so that my words and
actions match up. Amen.
‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to
look after orphans and widows in their distress’ v27
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Our words must match our deeds, or more particularly our deeds must
live up to our words. While Luther may not have thought much of
the letter of James, it contains some very strong words about how we
conduct ourselves as Christians.
To simply listen to the word of God and let it pass over us means that
we are deceiving ourselves. So as we see need, we are expected
to respond to it. Developing a caring ministry is as important in our
desire to become disciples as controlling our desires and our tongues.
This is always easier said than done but, as the writer records, ‘religion
that is pure and undefiled is to care for the orphans and widows and
those in distress’. As we care for those around us, we are expressing
externally and in a practical way what God has done in our lives. So
may the love of God flow out through our lives and into the lives of
others through our generous and loving response.
For Further reading: Luke 10:25-37 - Jesus' parable of the good Samaritan.
To Ponder: On what occasions during the past few weeks have you responded
in a practical way to someone’s need? What did you do?
To Pray: May the love of God flow through me so that my words and
actions match up. Amen.
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