How to Avoid Impure Religion
by Mike Robinson
 |
| Jesus Saves: Defiled Religion Destroys |
Therefore
lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness
the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a
man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes
himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into
the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer
but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 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. 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 (James 1:22-27).
How
to avoid defiled religion:
1. Worship God daily and focus your week on the coming Lord’s Day: plan, pray, and
focus on the goodness of Jesus. Yes, many times we do not feel like we are
sincere and that feeling may bother us. Nonetheless, all Christians, at times,
feel we are just mouthing words and it bothers us.
When you feel insincere in
your devotion to Jesus:
*
Always remember the reason it bothers you: God put in your heart to be open and
honest and sincere before Him. Accordingly, in one sense, it’s a good sign that
your insincerity troubles you.
*When
I first came to Jesus, a friend invited me to a false church and I did not participate
in its ceremonies; my lack of involvement did not disturb me because it was not
a godly service. On the other hand, within Christian worship, Christians will not
feel right when they lack sincerity and focus.
*When
you feel bad, a bit troubled, by a lack of heartfelt worship; pause and then
focus on Jesus: His person, His attributes, and His work. Soon you will regain
a genuineness and zest for worship.
*Do
not base your faith on your feelings; your feelings change and can often flow
from sinful dispositions.
2. Reach out to others (especially widows,
orphans, and the needy): be a servant for King Jesus. James the half-brother of
Jesus named himself a servant of Christ.
3. Guard your tongue. Disavow ungodly
speech and gossip.
4. Keep yourself unspotted from the world.
Turn away from the sinful ways of the world.
5. Obey God’s Word. Jesus said in John
14:15: “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
All for Jesus
Xerxes the king
of Persia once boarded a boat. Later it began to sink because there were too
many men aboard. The ship started sinking; sinking more and more; it appeared
that all aboard would drown. But an officer called out to the shipmen: “Are you
not willing to sacrifice and die for your king?” Suddenly almost all the men
leaped out of the boat into the water and drowned in order to save their king.
The question for Christians: How much
will you sacrifice for your King? Most Christians will not be called to forfeit
their life for their faith, but how much will you sacrifice in order to serve
others for your King?
We should aim to serve King Jesus and
love others since James calls an undefiled and pure religion one that helps the
widows and the poor.
Jesus
Came and Gave Himself for His People
Jesus
comes to His sheep by His glorious grace through His Word and Spirit to save
us. Jesus “gave Himself for me” (Titus 3).
Christians
ought to ponder:
·
Trouble
comes—but Jesus came.
·
Failure
comes—but Jesus came.
·
Problems
and pain come—but Jesus came.
And Jesus Christ comes to bring peace,
joy, hope, and cheerfulness to all who trust Him (Romans 5:1 & 15:13).
Today give Jesus full swing of your heart as He declares to you that He will
pardon every sin; heal every wound; and overcome every trouble. Christ comes,
swiftly, in a full gallop upon His victory horse to triumph for His people.
Yearn for Him and you will find peace for your soul no matter how things
unfold.
As the deer
pants for the water, so my soul pants for you, O God (Psalm 42:1).
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