True "Religion" (James 1:26-27)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 09-07-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  True “Religion”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  James 1:26-27

 

            Message of the verse:  “26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”  (NKJV)  “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.  Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.”  (NLT)

            “1) Religious worship 1a) Esp. external, that which consists of ceremonies 1a1) Religious discipline, religion.”  This is what Strongs has to say about this word that is translated “religion” in this verse.  This Greek word is only used here in these two verses in James, and in Acts, and also in Colossians where it is translated worshipping in the AV.  As seen the word can mean that religion is an external act, things like ceremonies, and days, things that are done on the outside in order to make you pleasing to God.  This is putting the cart before the horse, for are “good works” can only count for God if we are a child of God first, and then we can demonstrate true religion as James speaks of in verse 27. 

            In verse 26 James speaks of the tongue, and he uses the tongue on five different occasions in his letter.  The outward fruitfulness of a believer can be shown if he demonstrates that he can control his tongue, or his speaking, and if he cannot then he needs to examine himself to see if he truly is a believer, and if he is to learn how to “bridle his tongue” through the teachings in the Scripture.

            Next the believer should demonstrate service to others, as James shows us in verse 27 when he writes about helping the widows and the orphans.  These are those who have a hard time in helping themselves and are in need of a helping hand.

Isaiah 6:1-8 gives us an order to which we can get hold of how this process works.  First Isaiah saw the Lord, (salvation), and then Isaiah saw himself (examination) and then he went out to serve others (service).

            Next James says that to demonstrate true religion we should not be friends of the world.  As believers we live in the world, but we are not to be a part of the world.  A good example of how not to do this is seen in the life of Lot.  Lot was a true believer, as Peter tells us, but Lot first pitched his tent towards Sodom, then he moved into Sodom, and then Sodom moved into him, and the he lost everything when Sodom was judged.

            Of course the best example of how this is done right is to look at the Lord Jesus Christ’s life while He was on planet earth, for He ministered to those in the world, but certainly never became a part of the worlds system.  He is always our perfect example to follow.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think a good way not to become a part of the worlds system, and to control my tongue, and to serve others is to give myself to the Lord each morning, to put on the spiritual armor, to keep in the Word each day, to have a consistent prayer life, to confess my sins when I fail the Lord, to have fellowship with other believers, and to serve others.  I am sure there are other things that I can do too that I have not listed.

 

The Word of God was convicting to my heart this morning as I read it, but it also encouraged me too.

My Steps of Faith Today:  To love the Lord with all of my heart, soul, and mind, and to worship Him this morning in a way that will be pleasing to Him.