USELESS RELIGION?

James 1:21-27 says, “21…lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27Pure 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.” (NKJV)

When I think of the founding fathers of this great Republic of the United States I think of men of great faith and a religion of power; a religion pure and undefiled before the God of the universe. A “useless religion” would have been satisfied to remain in the homeland and accept a life of tepid tolerance and compromise. No. Our founding fathers, the signers of our constitution, considered their God-given right to liberty as a higher calling than subservience to a king, a monarch.

Founder Charles Carroll:
Signer of the Declaration of Independence said, "On the mercy of my Redeemer I rely for salvation and on His merits; not on the works I have done in obedience to His precepts." From an autographed letter in our possession written by Charles Carroll to Charles W. Wharton, Esq., on September 27, 1825, from Doughoragen, Maryland. (Source: Wallbuilders.com)

Pray for America. Pray for each other. Awakening must come to America! It has been one hundred years since the last great awakening (1905-06). Our one great hope is the intervention of God. Lay aside the sin that does so beset your life and receive the Word of God with meekness which is able to save your souls. It will reflect accurately the condition of your heart…what kind of man or woman you have become.

If you look into the ”perfect law of liberty,” the Word of God, you will see what our forefathers saw. You will see not a “useless religion” but religion of power and strength through a risen Savior. You will see Jesus. You will see a religion born of God for the renewal and awakening of your heart.

TAKE AWAY – PERSONAL REFLECTION

(Contemplate God’s Word to you)

What was the most significant thought you received from this session?

Why do you think God implanted this upon your heart?

What do you think God wants you to do as result of what you have heard?

Is there anything that might keep you from receiving/doing/obeying what you heard?

Ask His help in achieving what He spoke to you.

Thank God for what you have heard; remember and apply it to your life.