I wrote this almost four years ago. Enjoy!
I have a Bible verse I would really like to share with everyone. James 1:27 says: "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." This verse has been running through my mind for a while now and I really think it's one of those things everyone needs to consider. I mean, shouldn't we all be striving towards pure and undefiled religion? And if the instructions are right here, why not give them a second thought? Visiting orphans and widows in their troubles, surely all of us can take time to be caring for God's people. Later on in James 2:18 he says "I will show you my faith by my works." Good works don't save us, but they are proof of a vibrant living faith. After all "faith without works is dead." Now, before I digress to far, the main thing I want to bring out is the end portion of this verse "and to keep oneself unspotted for the world." What exactly does this mean? According to Websters "unspotted" means "free from moral stain" or "unblemished." So if we are to have the kind of religion that God approves of we must NOT become stained by this world. After all, we weren't called to be like the world. James 4:4 says: "Adulterers and adulteresses! do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." That's pretty easy to understand if you ask me.
Christians who try to walk as close to the line as they can are living as friends of the world and THAT IS WRONG. Christ never said being a Christian would be easy, in fact he made it quite clear in Matthew 10:22 (and many other places) that "you will be hated by all for My name's sake." Sadly, the hating doesn't only come from the world. Christians are involved far to often in gossip and slander concerning their brothers and sisters in Christ. I hear so many sad stories about Christians tearing other Christians down over the DUMBEST issues. And why? All because of pride, or maybe because someone's pointed out something you've done wrong, and instead of realizing it, and being willing to change like we should, it's easier to attack the person correcting you and justify what you're doing. It's sad really what we'll all do to get our own selfish ways.
Are you, my friends, keeping yourselves unspotted from the world? I know it's hard, and I know we all have our own struggles, but there is hope! 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says: "But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one." We know God wont allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bare, and with that he gives us a way out. (1 Corinthians 10:13) But just because there is a way out, doesn't mean we have to take it. It's up to you, and there is no excuse for living a worldly lifestyle. God demands that we are committed to Him and that we live separate from the ways of the world. May we all enjoy these molding years of our lives at college/university and keep ourselves unspotted from the world.
I have a Bible verse I would really like to share with everyone. James 1:27 says: "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." This verse has been running through my mind for a while now and I really think it's one of those things everyone needs to consider. I mean, shouldn't we all be striving towards pure and undefiled religion? And if the instructions are right here, why not give them a second thought? Visiting orphans and widows in their troubles, surely all of us can take time to be caring for God's people. Later on in James 2:18 he says "I will show you my faith by my works." Good works don't save us, but they are proof of a vibrant living faith. After all "faith without works is dead." Now, before I digress to far, the main thing I want to bring out is the end portion of this verse "and to keep oneself unspotted for the world." What exactly does this mean? According to Websters "unspotted" means "free from moral stain" or "unblemished." So if we are to have the kind of religion that God approves of we must NOT become stained by this world. After all, we weren't called to be like the world. James 4:4 says: "Adulterers and adulteresses! do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." That's pretty easy to understand if you ask me.
friend of the world = enemy of God
Christians who try to walk as close to the line as they can are living as friends of the world and THAT IS WRONG. Christ never said being a Christian would be easy, in fact he made it quite clear in Matthew 10:22 (and many other places) that "you will be hated by all for My name's sake." Sadly, the hating doesn't only come from the world. Christians are involved far to often in gossip and slander concerning their brothers and sisters in Christ. I hear so many sad stories about Christians tearing other Christians down over the DUMBEST issues. And why? All because of pride, or maybe because someone's pointed out something you've done wrong, and instead of realizing it, and being willing to change like we should, it's easier to attack the person correcting you and justify what you're doing. It's sad really what we'll all do to get our own selfish ways.
Are you, my friends, keeping yourselves unspotted from the world? I know it's hard, and I know we all have our own struggles, but there is hope! 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says: "But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one." We know God wont allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bare, and with that he gives us a way out. (1 Corinthians 10:13) But just because there is a way out, doesn't mean we have to take it. It's up to you, and there is no excuse for living a worldly lifestyle. God demands that we are committed to Him and that we live separate from the ways of the world. May we all enjoy these molding years of our lives at college/university and keep ourselves unspotted from the world.
