Religion

Scripture: James 1:26-27 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion 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.

Observation: James (who might be the brother of Jesus) is writing in this verse on religion. He in 2 verses tells what religion is and what it is not. James says that someone that does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, dceives himself and his religion is worthless. Someone who wears their religion on their sleeve but lies in a way that does not mirror what they say. James says that action speak louder han words. Religious people have two duties: 1. Help those in need. In James' day the people most in need were widows and orphans. They were the outcast and thus they needed the most help. Part of being a disciple is reaching out to the outcast. 2. Keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Don't allow the world to determine your religion.

Application: It's so easy to get caught up in the ways of the world and to almost desire the praise from others of being a Christian. And so we begin to tell people how religious we are and yet live lives that do not reflect what has come out of our mouths. James says to put your money where your mouth is. There have been long struggles between the writings of James and Paul. Paul says faith is all you need and James puts an emphasis on works. However, I believe it is a mixture of the two. I believe when you have an encounter with the love and the grace of God there is something that calls you to reach out to others.

Prayer: Almighty God, help me to walk each day with the love for others that you have for me. Guide me in the direction of those who need to hear about you and give me the words to say. You have called us to something greater than the place we are at today, yet we cannot get there without you. Lord, light the path, grasp my hand and lead on. Amen