Tuesday; August 6

What is religion?  Typically when we think about religion we conjure up images of church worship or doing religious acts.  While there is value in worshiping and working together as a church, religion is more than this.  When James was teaching the early church what they needed to do to be pleasing to God he noted, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.  Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:26-27).  Religion isn’t just something we do on Sundays, it is the way we live each and every day of our lives.
In describing religion, the Bible specifically mentions three things:
1.  Watch our language.  What we talk about and how we talk about it defines our religion.  To be pleasing to God, we had better watch what we say.
2.  Take care of those who can’t care for themselves.  The widows and orphans of the First Century were the helpless of their society.  They were going to struggle to stay alive much less make ends meet.  Godly people praise God by doing what needs to be done to help those who can’t help themselves.
3.  Practice purity.  Religion isn’t just about what we do, it is also about who we are.  Christians are different, they are good people who make the decision to live pure, moral, spiritual lives.
          Are we worshiping our God?  Not just going to church, but genuinely practicing our religion?
          Think About It!

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