Posted in Faith Builders
JESUS IS COMING SOON! MARANATHA LORD!
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"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 1:27, New King James Version)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Yesterday I covered the issue of useless religion, today's passage speaks about what true religion is. "To visit orphans and widows in their trouble" Of course, this means the "true" orphans and widows, but extending the spirit behind the words will also include all who are poor and need. The homeless, jobless, the one who works hard, yet still struggles to pay for the necessities of life. I doubt that many would argue that God wants us to reach out to all of these, and give them a hand up.
However, I think this idea can also be extended to include than just those with physical needs. There are many today who have no spiritual guidance or foundation. Raised in homes with no knowledge of God, they are wandering through life, spiritually destitute, searching for something they can't put into words. In a spiritual sense, they are equal to orphans and widows, no headship, no covering. They desperately need someone to show the way. To extend a hand of friendship, of love, and lead them to the Lord who loves them more than any parent or spouse ever could. Any person who is involved in any kind of evangelism or discipleship is reaching out to these spiritual orphans.
Of course, there is second part to the verse above, keeping oneself unspotted from the world. How does this look, and how does it differ from legalism? Each person will probably answer this a little differently, and we should all seek the Lord's will in prayer on this matter. However, there are some basics I believe would apply to all.
Certainly, it means that we should not engage in willful sin. It is obvious that someone who steals or commits adultery has become spotted by the world. But is that all means? Just not to willfully sin?
What about watching TV? Browsing the internet? Pursuing money? I am not being legalistic, I watch TV, I enjoy the internet, and I certainly wouldn't complain about it if someone gave me a check for a million dollars! I don't think doing those things, or having money automatically makes you worldly. I think though, that it is a matter of both degree, content, and attitude. What is important to you? What consumes most of your time?
There have been times when my attitude and priorities have gotten all messed up, and at these times I can actually feel myself becoming more and more "spotted".
It is also a matter of degree and content, I'm not talking about obviously bad content here, I am talking about subtleties that reflect a worldview based on materialism, evolutionism, and rebellion, here is where degree comes in to play also, if I spend the majority of my time watching shows that feed my mind thoughts contrary to God's word, eventually I will find myself thinking from that perspective. When I begin to assimilate the thought patterns and worldview of the one who wrote the script, it is a sure sign that I am becoming spotted by the world, and it is time to repent and turn to Jesus for cleansing.
Much of this can be solved by spending less time in these "leisure" activities, and more time in God's word. If I am exposed to one hour a week of some less than perfect worldview, but am being washed daily in God's word, the one hour is not likely to affect me much. However, if I am spending more time exposed to the world than to God's word, I will be affected.
Again, each person will need to seek God for their own boundaries and limits with some of this, some people may feel God leads them to never watch TV and get rid of their computer, others will feel that God allows them more leniency than I do.
The answer is to seek Christ with an open heart, ask God's leading, and be willing to obedient to whatever He says.
However, I think this idea can also be extended to include than just those with physical needs. There are many today who have no spiritual guidance or foundation. Raised in homes with no knowledge of God, they are wandering through life, spiritually destitute, searching for something they can't put into words. In a spiritual sense, they are equal to orphans and widows, no headship, no covering. They desperately need someone to show the way. To extend a hand of friendship, of love, and lead them to the Lord who loves them more than any parent or spouse ever could. Any person who is involved in any kind of evangelism or discipleship is reaching out to these spiritual orphans.
Of course, there is second part to the verse above, keeping oneself unspotted from the world. How does this look, and how does it differ from legalism? Each person will probably answer this a little differently, and we should all seek the Lord's will in prayer on this matter. However, there are some basics I believe would apply to all.
Certainly, it means that we should not engage in willful sin. It is obvious that someone who steals or commits adultery has become spotted by the world. But is that all means? Just not to willfully sin?
What about watching TV? Browsing the internet? Pursuing money? I am not being legalistic, I watch TV, I enjoy the internet, and I certainly wouldn't complain about it if someone gave me a check for a million dollars! I don't think doing those things, or having money automatically makes you worldly. I think though, that it is a matter of both degree, content, and attitude. What is important to you? What consumes most of your time?
There have been times when my attitude and priorities have gotten all messed up, and at these times I can actually feel myself becoming more and more "spotted".
It is also a matter of degree and content, I'm not talking about obviously bad content here, I am talking about subtleties that reflect a worldview based on materialism, evolutionism, and rebellion, here is where degree comes in to play also, if I spend the majority of my time watching shows that feed my mind thoughts contrary to God's word, eventually I will find myself thinking from that perspective. When I begin to assimilate the thought patterns and worldview of the one who wrote the script, it is a sure sign that I am becoming spotted by the world, and it is time to repent and turn to Jesus for cleansing.
Much of this can be solved by spending less time in these "leisure" activities, and more time in God's word. If I am exposed to one hour a week of some less than perfect worldview, but am being washed daily in God's word, the one hour is not likely to affect me much. However, if I am spending more time exposed to the world than to God's word, I will be affected.
Again, each person will need to seek God for their own boundaries and limits with some of this, some people may feel God leads them to never watch TV and get rid of their computer, others will feel that God allows them more leniency than I do.
The answer is to seek Christ with an open heart, ask God's leading, and be willing to obedient to whatever He says.
