Religion Worth Something

Sunday, ‎November ‎20, ‎2022

Good Morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: 1 Peter 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

Memory verse: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Readings: EZEKIEL 14-15 JAMES 2

Religion Worth Something

James 1:26 A person might think he is religious. But if he says things he should not say, then he is just fooling himself. His “religion” is worth nothing. 27 Religion that God the Father accepts is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help; and keeping yourself free from the world’s evil influence. This is the kind of religion that God accepts as pure and good.

A person thinks he is religious but his words betray the evil in his heart. Think about it. It is not just about obscenities uttered in anger or foolishness, it is about words spoken about others. This man may think he is religious but God's word says his religion is worthless. In the sixties, we did not hear foul language on TV. We did hear people berate and speak harshly of others. Then in the seventies came Roe vs. Wade. Then came more and more foul speech and now our country is more divided than ever before.

You may say that it is shallow for me to suggest that what you call harmless gesting could cause our country's decline but stop and think. Part of James 1:27 says "...keeping yourself free from the world’s evil influence". How does one do that?

James 3:5 says 6 "The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person..."

The tongue is 'a world of wickedness'. What people say is heard. So we must be Holy Spirit led so we control our words as well as what we do with the words we hear.

2 Corinthians 10:5 ►We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We demolish arguments? How? By taking every thought captive--to make it obedient to Christ.

James 1:27 also says, " ...keeping yourself free from the world’s evil influence..."

We keep ourselves free from the world's evil by being obedient to Christ-not by using our tongues or our power or influence. We keep ourselves pure by seeking God to teach us discipline.

What is the opposite of the 'world's evil'? It is the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus-our seeking Him everyday immersing ourselves in the Holy Spirit's training us in righteousness.

The chains of evil or the chains of God's love on our lives-on your life-this is an everyday choice. A disciplined life in Christ is, indeed, being freed from the evil of the world. This is a challenge-a big challenge that only Christ can conquer in our daily lives.

Jesus said:"33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”John 16

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Have mercy on me and forgive me for listening to the world and then repeating it and thinking there is no harm. Teach me to leave the world's evil alone.

God of all self-control and discipline,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen