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James 1:27
27 Pure [katharos] religion [threskeia] and [kai] undefiled [amiantos] before [para] God [theos] and [kai] the Father [pater] is [esti] this [houtos], To visit [episkeptomai]
the fatherless [orphanos] and [kai] widows [chera] in [en] their [autos] affliction [thlipsis], and to keep [tereo]
himself [heautou] unspotted [aspilos] from [apo] the world [kosmos]. KJV-Interlinear
27 This is pure and undefiled
religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in
their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.NASB
The typical order of priorities of folks is generally
self first, then maybe others if there is time, or so long as they are not an
inconvenience, or so long that there is sufficient excess that will enable you to
deal with others, and then God, maybe.
However, here we learn the true priorities of a
person, or what they should be.First,
there is the Father, then there are others, and then self comes in last.
Pure and undefiled religion means, genuine faith that
contains no flaws, no blemishes, no sin or human good whatsoever.
In this sense, religion stands for the plan of the
Father.God the Father is the author of
the divine plan.
The divine plan is subscribed to by the Son and the
Spirit.All three members of the Godhead
subscribe to, and have adopted, the plan of the Father. They do not compete nor
attempt to modify the plan in any way.
To reject the plan of the Father is to reject
Him.To reject the Father, is to reject
His plan.
The divine plan includes everything in life regarding
you, your life, your circumstances, provision for your salvation, provision for
the whole concept of your spiritual growth, the dispensations of history, the
work of Christ on the Cross, and so forth, for everyone in all of human
history.
Second, your attitude toward others is paramount. Selfishness, prejudice, favoritism and so
forth all are taboo behaviors.Those who
need help the most are portrayed as orphans and widows.To them the world cares nothing, and of them
the world takes the most advantage.They
are cheated, defrauded, taken advantage of by any and all.
If you have access to he internet, you won't be online
for very long before you start getting attacks on your computer, spam, and
malicious emails.Your computer comes
off the shelf usually with a virus protection program of some kind.Why?Because the world is full of evil malicious thieving people.Most advertisement cannot even be trusted,
let alone the true source of most email.So, the most used key on the keyboard is the delete key.
Where is empathy, sympathy, or honesty in the
world?The world is severely lacking in
these areas.Selfishness, greed, and
lust combine with the feeling of a hidden identity because of the internet to
give evil folks a new high in being bold in their criminal efforts.
Then there is self.If self comes in last, then everyone else is taken care of.But, far too many put self before even their
own family, let alone strangers.
I saw an interview of a kid in Afghanistan.He thought being a terrorist was an
occupation equivalent to that of a bricklayer, or carpenter, or doctor.It is a sad state in society when crime and
evil are raised to be equal with legitimate occupations.
But then, when society has fallen to such low levels,
that it cannot distinguish between good and evil, then what is there to say
about their priorities?
A child who lives in a region that is corrupted by
Islam as well as other false religions, can be understood. But, how can one understand a child who joins
gangs in a more advanced society.Are
they different or the same?
Lack of doctrine, regardless of ones location or
circumstances will always result in a confused society.However, God is not limited by mans
circumstances.God can bring truth and
discernment to anyone, anywhere in the world.
You can be negative toward God, Christ, and doctrine
anywhere in the world.Likewise
regardless of where you live in this world, you can make yourself 'unstained,'
through doctrine.We call that
mechanism, confession.Our study of 1,
2, 3 Jn., cover that topic thoroughly.
The true religion, or true faith, comes only from God,
through doctrine, which produces the proper attitude which you should have
toward life, and should be lived while resident in fellowship.
That is the spiritual life.That is the Christian life.It is the easiest life to obtain, through a
daily study of the Word of God, but the most difficult pattern of life to live,
because of the phenomenal opposition that the world will throw at you.
But then, if you allow it, God will deal with the
world for you, making that portion of life, both easier and something you can
handle.
Now is the time to post a prayer.
End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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