Good morning,
This month we will study the Book of James. Chapter 1 teaches us how to deal with trials and temptations. The key verse is James 1:19.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: (James 1:19)
Yesterday, we studied verses 22-25, God does not tempt man. Today we will look at verses 26-27, Pure Religion.
James 1
Pure religion (Verses 26-27)
- The religious man v 26
- Pure religion is… v27
“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. 27 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.”
If I asked you what is pure religion, the answer here in James would not be high on the list. What do people see when they look at us? James wanted his recipients to be humble servants of God. He wanted them to be caring, gracious, merciful, and loving as His Master Jesus was. He wanted them to live above the temptations of this world. He wanted them to reflect Jesus.
That is what God wants from us today.
This week we have learned how to live above the noise and chaos of the world. If we apply the lessons from James 1, we will be able to successfully navigate through our Christian life.
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
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