Pure and Faultless

Although I'm not a big fan of New Year's resolutions, I do think it's a good idea to evaluate where you've been and where you're heading at the start of a new year. As God's men, we should take time to seriously consider our spiritual walk and James 1 provides a few areas to challenge ourselves.

In verse 22, the Bible says: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. For us plain and simple guys, this one's clear---take what you read and hear in God's Word and apply it to your life. God promises blessing in our obedience to His Word (v.25). Just do it!

Verse 26 tells us: If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. We need to remember that just a few ill-timed words can damage or destroy our personal testimony.

Finally, in verse 27: Religion 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. We can waste a lot of time trying to score spiritual brownie-points and put on appearances for others, but our omniscient Heavenly Father makes it clear---help others in need, stop living by the world's standard and start living by God's standard.