James 1.27
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this:
to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself
unstained by the world. -NAS '95
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring
for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world
corrupt you. -NLT
Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this:
Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against
corruption from the godless world. -MSG
Living out James' admonition here brings us right to Jesus' comments
regarding the coming judgment about how we in the practical, day-to-day treat
those we consider "the least of these" (Mt. 25)
If we are to be people of God we realize such good works do not save
us, neither are we living as genuine Christ-followers if we ignore or
for that matter, reject doing such as fruit of our genuine salvation. We
are NOT saved for ourselves alone! If we are blessed with the world's
goods (James also says) and withhold them from those in need we
are living something other than the life God desires us to live.
When James speaking of the rich howling (yep, that's what it says)
and indicts them with regard to treatment of the poor he's not
speaking about politics but human lives for which Jesus died and
rose.
There is simply no exit from the core reality of what constitutes
Christ-like treatment of those in need among us. Well, in one sense
there is: you can ignore, reject, rationalize and make thin excuses
for why such parts of Scripture don't pertain to you. I cannot.
God helps us that we might help others and so reflect, represent
Jesus in a world so deeply in need of Him and His love!
As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn
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