Dec 20 2024

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.

In this verse, Peter emphasizes the importance of Christians working together. We are to be single-minded, have compassion for one another, and show love, sympathy (our modern-day equivalent to the King James English word pitiful), and humility to one another. Today, we should apply this verse to our church body.

Peter's first instruction was that we should be of one mind, meaning we should all agree on the core beliefs of the Christian faith. A lot of early Christian communities wrote creeds that explained what they believed, including essential doctrines like the virgin birth, resurrection, and the trinity. This is why it is important for a church to have a statement of faith—it ensures that all members of the church share the same mindset regarding core beliefs.

These core beliefs should translate into general understandings of how we treat each other. We should live out the Gospel that we say we believe by showing compassion to each other. Rather than mocking or abandoning a member who has fallen into sin, we should help the person return to Christ and be restored. We should also love each other in the same way that Christ first loved us. We should walk in His love and display it to each other, even when there are disagreements among us.

The church—meaning the people who gather to worship—is God's primary means of reaching the world. It is essential that we strive to be in harmony with each other so we can be light in a world that is so full of darkness. When we come together as one mind and with the primary intention to love God, one another, and the world, the church becomes a powerful manifestation of the glory of God. We can take heart that because Peter instructed us to do this, the Lord will help us achieve it.

Dear Lord, help me to show love to other people in my church. Help me to find a place to serve that is in alignment with the needs all around me. Help me to contribute to bringing light to a dark world that is desperate for you. I love you, Jesus. In your name, amen.

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.