August 23, 2024 TRUE RELIGION
James 1:25-27 “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this mans religious is worthless. This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
This passage clarifies and brings us back to the foundation of what Christianity is all about. We need to hear this message because all to often, Christianity and ‘church’ have become somewhat faddish in certain circles and has become much like an industry, promoting the ‘brand.’ Many feel that if they attend church and give some financial donation to the church, they are all good. However, as always, the scriptures cut right to the core. We love hearing a good message/sermon; we are impressed with good communicators. These verses remind us that hearing a good message, and reading good verses in the bible has no value unless we do, apply, and put into action what we read. God’s word is an ‘adapt and apply’ book. The promise is that when we are an ‘effectual doer’ of the word, we are blessed in what we do-quit simple. If we claim to be ‘religious’ or claim to be a Christian and yet do not do the word, we have deceived ourselves. In particular, James says that effective doers of the word have bridled their tongue. That may not sound like a big deal, but to bridle our tongue is a huge deal for sure. The words we let proceed out of our mouths can build up or they can tear down. Controlling our tongue is an indication of the leading of the Spirit. In a sentence, James gives a clear picture of what true religion (Christianity) is all about and what pleases our God and Father. Visiting orphans and widows in their distress is pure and undefiled religion. Of course visiting orphans and widows are not the only actions that are pure religion; but such things as that paints a picture of what pure religion looks like. James ends this passage with saying that pure religion is keeping oneself unstained by the world-another big deal. We live in the world, but we are of another kingdom-the kingdom of God, and the two cannot be blended together. Our motivations, our desires, our thoughts, our actions, our words and our attitude are to flow from the kingdom of God within us. So, let us look intently at the perfect law, God’s word, and abide by it-not becoming a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer of the word. When we do, we will be blessed in all we do.
James 1:22-24 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.”
Blessings,
Buddy
James 1:25-27 “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this mans religious is worthless. This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
This passage clarifies and brings us back to the foundation of what Christianity is all about. We need to hear this message because all to often, Christianity and ‘church’ have become somewhat faddish in certain circles and has become much like an industry, promoting the ‘brand.’ Many feel that if they attend church and give some financial donation to the church, they are all good. However, as always, the scriptures cut right to the core. We love hearing a good message/sermon; we are impressed with good communicators. These verses remind us that hearing a good message, and reading good verses in the bible has no value unless we do, apply, and put into action what we read. God’s word is an ‘adapt and apply’ book. The promise is that when we are an ‘effectual doer’ of the word, we are blessed in what we do-quit simple. If we claim to be ‘religious’ or claim to be a Christian and yet do not do the word, we have deceived ourselves. In particular, James says that effective doers of the word have bridled their tongue. That may not sound like a big deal, but to bridle our tongue is a huge deal for sure. The words we let proceed out of our mouths can build up or they can tear down. Controlling our tongue is an indication of the leading of the Spirit. In a sentence, James gives a clear picture of what true religion (Christianity) is all about and what pleases our God and Father. Visiting orphans and widows in their distress is pure and undefiled religion. Of course visiting orphans and widows are not the only actions that are pure religion; but such things as that paints a picture of what pure religion looks like. James ends this passage with saying that pure religion is keeping oneself unstained by the world-another big deal. We live in the world, but we are of another kingdom-the kingdom of God, and the two cannot be blended together. Our motivations, our desires, our thoughts, our actions, our words and our attitude are to flow from the kingdom of God within us. So, let us look intently at the perfect law, God’s word, and abide by it-not becoming a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer of the word. When we do, we will be blessed in all we do.
James 1:22-24 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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