Good morning,
This week we begin our study of the book of James.
Chapter one explains how to deal with trials and temptations.
The Jewish believers in James’s day were being persecuted. They had been driven out of Jerusalem and were scattered abroad. James encourages those scattered Jewish believers on how to conduct themselves during this time.
James 1
4. True religion (Verses 26-27)
The religious man v 26
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
Pure religion is… v27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Have you noticed yet, that James is making us think about what our faith means to us?
Do we seem to be religious? Do we bridle our tongue? Or do we keep ourselves unspotted from the world? Is our faith in Christ practical? Would a person who did not know us, sense that we are a believer in Christ?
Spend some time contemplating these questions.
CONCLUSION
Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations
Trying of your faith works patience
Lack wisdom, ask God without wavering
Endure
Be doers of the Word
Pure religion is: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com