Page 6 - Good News June 2018 paper
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"Count it all joy, my brothers, his own desire. Then desire when deceives his heart, this person's 22-25), and then he rebukes mere
when you meet trials of various it has conceived gives birth to sin, religion is worthless. Religion doing without having our inner
kinds, for you know that the and sin when it is fully grown that is pure and undefiled before lives changed (verses 26-27).
testing of your faith produces brings forth death. Do not be God the Father is this: to visit
steadfastness. And let stead- deceived, my beloved brothers. orphans and widows in their In keeping with his emphasis on
fastness have its full effect, that Every good gift and every perfect affliction, and to keep oneself genuine faith and its consequent
you may be perfect and complete, gift is from above, coming down unstained from the world" (James good works, James offers three
lacking in nothing. If any of you from the Father of lights, with 1:1-27). key aspects of pure religion:
lacks wisdom, let him ask God, Whom there is no variation or
who gives generously to all with- shadow due to change. Of His The epistle of James is one of the 1. Restrain our tongues from
out reproach, and it will be given own will He brought us forth by most practical books found in the speaking evil of others;
him. But let him ask in faith, with the word of truth, that we should New Testament. In the above 2. Show practical concern for
no doubting, for the one who be a kind of firstfruits of His verses, James defines what a true those in need;
doubts is like a wave of the sea creatures. religion is in the eyes of God. 3. Keep ourselves pure from sin.
that is driven and tossed by the Religion here means the external
wind. For that person must not HEARING AND patterns of behaviour connected What God is looking for is the
suppose that he will receive DOING THE WORD with religious belief. It means the practical type of godliness which
anything from the Lord; he is a Know this, my beloved brothers: outer expression of belief in takes a compassionate interest in
double-minded man, unstable in let every person be quick to hear, worship and service rather than others and keeps our own life
all his ways. slow to speak, slow to anger; for the doctrines believed. Thus, clean, better defined as "acts of
the anger of man does not religion has to do with our grace and a walk of separation".
Let the lowly brother boast in his produce the righteousness of worship manifested in the This happens when both practical
exaltation, and the rich in his God. Therefore put away all filthi- outward through our acts of love and practical holiness are
humiliation, because like a flower ness and rampant wickedness service! evident in our lives!
of the grass he will pass away. For and receive with meekness the
the sun rises with its scorching implanted word, which is able to So, how can we really worship Our new identity in Christ is thus
heat and withers the grass; its save your souls. But be doers of God through our outward acts of evident in the way we take care of
flower falls, and its beauty the word, and not hearers only, worship? True religion as an one another - reaching even to the
perishes. So also will the rich man deceiving yourselves. For if any- outpouring of our genuine faith in most frail and vulnerable among
fade away in the midst of his one is a hearer of the word and not God is an expression of how we us - who are most in need of our
pursuits. a doer, he is like a man who looks relate to God and others. James help. The way God views and
intently at his natural face in a stresses concern for widows and defines true religion is when His
Blessed is the man who remains mirror. For he looks at himself and orphans as a true measure of character is reflected through our
steadfast under trial, for when he goes away and at once forgets obedience that is pleasing to God. practical lives which are exem-
has stood the test he will receive what he was like. But the one who We should be aware that Israel plified by our pure speech, pure
the crown of life, which God has looks into the perfect law, the law was given this responsibility in love, and pure character. This is a
promised to those who love Him. of liberty, and perseveres, being the Old Testament, and it reflects lofty challenge that should guide
Let no one say when he is temp- no hearer who forgets but a doer the concerns of God Himself. us how to live before God and
ted, 'I am being tempted by God,' who acts, he will be blessed in his other people!
for God cannot be tempted with doing. Before James comes around to - Practical Instructions For Your
evil, and He Himself tempts no defining true religion, he has Daily Life Journey, Dr. Shibu
one. But each person is tempted If anyone thinks he is religious already rebuked mere listening Cherian, United in the Word
when he is lured and enticed by and does not bridle his tongue but and not doing anything (verses Ministries, unitedintheword.com