James 1:26-27 NIV True Religious
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Religious is submissive to God and worship God wholeheartedly. Religious is an attitude and an intention. James reminded people, not just talk but practice why you believe. He called to live out our belief. Otherwise, it is worthless and not beneficial. The religion that God accepts is pure and faultless. James used looking after orphans and widows as an examples. Orphans and widows are the lowly group of people. Religious people are willing to look after them and love them. The world may look at them as marginal and as being neglected. Religious people practice what they belief, they will extend God’s love and mercy to these orphans and widows.
We read the Bible daily and worship God every Sunday. We have the knowledge about God and we understand the teaching from the Bible. Do we practice what we have learnt? Knowledge puffs us up, but only love builds up ourself and others. Our worldview and values are different from the world. Our attitude and lifestyle are not the same as them. With true religious, we have the courage to live out the Christ-centered life. You can do it too with intentionality.