Dec 19 2024

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

In this verse, James gives us a picture of how our relationship with the Lord plays out in our everyday lives: We visit orphans and widows and remain holy. Today, there are many things we can learn from this verse!

James does not suggest that these deeds are the way to salvation, but rather, they are natural outcomes of having a relationship with Jesus. Pure undefiled religion is characterized by a devotion to God that carries into showing love for the people that have nothing to offer us. This is exactly what God has done for each of us. We have nothing to offer God—He certainly doesn't need us. But He, out of love, decided to welcome us into His kingdom. We love God because He saved us, and everything else is a natural expression of that love.

If you look at your life, can you identify things that you are doing solely because of your love for Jesus? Are you offering yourself to people out of obedience to the Lord, and not because of what you might gain from being of service? Taking an honest look into our hearts and motives can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it's necessary because it shows us where God wants us to grow and become more like Him. He does not condemn us. But He expects us to become more Christlike so that we can enjoy our relationship with Him even more.

In addition to serving the least of us, James says that we should remain unspotted from the world. This means we live holy lives no matter what those around us are doing. We have to be willing to forgo the television show or movie that features inappropriate scenes, say no to gossip, hold our tongues when someone angers us, and maintain integrity even when it seems like one else is.

In the end, we can rest knowing that Jesus will prompt our hearts, showing us where we need to serve, and that the Holy Spirit will help us stay away from sin. When we remember to reflect the Lord in all circumstances, we will do as James has instructed. As we dwell in God's love, we live it out.

Dear Lord, thank you for the love that you have shown me. I don't deserve any of it, but you give it to me freely. You are so, so good to me. Help me to share your love and goodness with other people, drawing them to you by helping them see who you are. In Jesus' name, amen.

Dec 18 2024

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. :

In this verse in Genesis, we learn that all humans are made for relationships with each other. God created Adam and then saw that it was not good for him to be alone, so He created Eve to be his helper. The idea of relationship extends far beyond just husbands and wives, as not all of us are called to marriage. But we are all wired for true and meaningful relationships with other people.

Our relationships with others start with a desire to honor the Lord. Jesus has given us life in Him, and we should share the love that He has shown us with other people. This means we should seek out friendships not only as a way to make our lives more enjoyable, but as an opportunity to spread the love of Jesus.

Jesus himself modeled the purpose of human relationships in our lives. He ministered to the twelve apostles, with Peter, James, and John, being the closest to Him. On the night of His arrest, Jesus asked these three to pray for Him. Although they ended up falling asleep instead of praying, Jesus's request shows us that friendship is also an avenue for spiritual support—we should be praying for our friends.

Friendships are also a way to share the Gospel with other people. Having an established relationship with someone will make both of you inclined to listen to what the other has to say because you care for each other. A relationship builds trust, and over time, as trust is established, your relationship can be a gateway to sharing the Gospel.

Today, we can be praying that God will help us seek out relationships in new ways, and then to honor those relationships as we become conduits for His love.

Dear Lord, I thank you for helping us build relationships with each other. Thank you that we aren't meant to live life alone. Help me to identify the relationships that you have placed in my life and help me be the friend that you want me to be. Thank you, Lord, that you are my greatest friend. In Jesus' name, amen.