Humbly
Accept The Word Planted In You
My dear brothers and
sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak
and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the
righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the
evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can
save you.
Do not merely listen to
the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the
word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a
mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he
looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,
and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will
be blessed in what they do.
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.
James
1:19-27
True faith responds to
the needs of others, according to James. May our heart be moved from inaction
to action; from words alone to deeds that back them up.
Compassionate action not only aids those mired in life’s difficulties, but it may also make them open to the greater
message from our Savior who sees their need and can do so much more for them.
Others
will know what the words “God is love”
mean
when they see it in our lives.
Our
Daily Bread – August 10, 2015