If you read the suggested passage each day, by the end of 30 days you will have read the entire New Testament.
Day 2730-day reading plan: James – 2 Peter
Daily Verse: James 1: 27
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.
One of the well-known passages from the Old Testament is Micah 6:8. It says the Lord requires justice, kindness, and humility from His children. God is a God who is concerned with how we treat one another. Of the Ten Commandments, four are about how we treat God and six are about how we should treat others.
Scripture reveals that God is especially concerned with how we treat the stranger, the poor, widows, and orphans. James writes that true religion, true worship and reverence of our God, includes taking care of the widows and orphans. Faith without the works of charity is not living; it is dead.
President Jimmy Carter may not be remembered as the best president, but his legacy includes his work with Habitat for Humanity. His driving force behind his work is his faith. He said, My faith demands--this is not optional--my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”
Being a Christian is about more than regularly attending worship. Jesus called His disciples to go and make disciples. Discipleship is about participating in mission. One church has t-shirts that says, “God’s work, Our hands.” As we do acts of charity and service, we are doing God’s work, whether it be visiting a widow or feeding the hungry.
Religion is not something we just practice on Sunday mornings. Christianity is a way of life that requires us to use our time, tithes, and talents to further the work of God ushering in the Kingdom.
Question for reflection:
How are you looking after the disadvantaged of our society?
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