Daily Bread – March 25, 2022 (The Sixth Day – Genesis 1:24-31) James 1:27 – Pure and undefiled service before God and the Father is to care for the fatherless and the widows in their trouble, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James warns us against only being hearers of the Word and not doers of the Word. He describes those who are willing to participate in the meetings, and will sit and listen to the Word, but remain unmoved when it comes to obedience (James 1:23-25). These are those who say they believe, but they never show their faith by their works (James 2:17-22). These folks continue to have an unbridled tongue and an unwillingness to be obedient to the commands of our Savior Jesus and the purity of the Holy Spirit. Thus, James cries out against those who have empty practices without the ethical and moral results. A compassion for the poor and the needy – and especially the fatherless and the widows – is an expression of the will and the nature of God (Psalms 68:5, 146:9; Isaiah 1:17; Deuteronomy 10:16-19, 14:29, 24:17-22; Jeremiah 5:28; and Ezekiel 22:7; Zechariah 7:10; Job 29:16; Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 5:3-16). If a person has therefore been born of the Word and has received the Word of God into their nature, then the fruits of the Word must be allowed to be produced, and thus testify of one’s transformation (James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:23). Too many people think God just wants us to recognize Him. God is not looking to be recognized – He is looking for relationship. He wants men to engage in the beauty and right conduct of the life He has created and given to us. God sets the example, and He expects us to follow Him. Therefore, the Word of truth and the practice of it produces a right relationship with our Heavenly Father! We cannot have the love of God dwelling in us if we shut off a deep compassion towards the poor and the needy in the community of the Church (1 John 3:17; Galatians 6:10). We must become more mindful of the needs of people around us and be willing to participate in helping them with their needs, both physically and spiritually. Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 3/25/2022
