Day #21

Begin this time in prayer and ask God to help you do something out of the box!

Read James 1:26-27

Religion = beliefs, faith, worship of God

Yesterday we began the final portion of James 1.  James 1:26-27 gives us 3 characteristics of someone whose religion is pure and stain-free before the Father.

What were these characteristics?

1.

2.

3.

Yesterday we talked about the first one in great detail, which was KEEPING A TIGHT REIN ON YOUR TONGUE.

Today we will discuss two more that may be a bit unfamiliar to us.  These are…

-         Visiting orphans and widows in their affliction

-         Keeping oneself unstained from the world.

Let’s begin with widows and orphans in their affliction.

NOTE:  I want to encourage you to use the “Bible Gateway” tab above from time to time.  Sometimes looking up different versions of the same verse can help you get a better understanding of something that may be hard to get.  The New Living Translation (NLT), English Standard Version (ESV), and the New International Reader Version (NIRV) are excellent versions!

When I look up James 1:27 on www.biblegateway.com, and change the version to “New International Reader Version,” it says this….

²⁷ Here are the kinds of beliefs that God our Father accepts as pure and without fault. When widows and children who have no parents are in trouble, take care of them. And keep yourselves from being polluted by the world.  (NIRV)

The “New Living Translation” says this…

²⁷ Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Let me give you a little understanding of what life was like for widows and orphans in biblical times…

Children were considered orphans when they were fatherless.  Women were considered widows when their husbands had died.  Orphans and widows were landless people.  In this time, without land, you were unable to feed yourself and you certainly had no one looking out to care for you.  The husband/father was the provider for the family in all things… and without him, women and children were helpless.  And often, unless someone stepped in to provide, they were left to die.  In our world, both historically and even today in many areas, widows and orphans are afflicted or oppressed… they are forced into hardship, distress, abuse, mistreatment, and are often enslaved by the unjust authorities in their life.

NOTE: I know there are a wide range of readers and ages to this blog now.  Some of you are committed to the group so you can have people caring and encouraging you in your growing walk with the Lord.  Some of you are getting on anonymously and checking things out for a while.  And that is GREAT!  From time to time I am going to ask you to talk to someone older than you, preferably your parents.  If this is not possible for you, I encourage you to pair up with an older person in church to ask them some questions and give you insight.  Older people have knowledge of things you don’t yet have.  Learn from them!

THE TALK

Physically get yourself up and make the following happen today.  Talk with your PARENTS and ask them what life is like for fatherless homes.  Ask them specifically to be real and tell you some uncomfortable information about what orphans go through.  If I had to guess, many of your parents will want to go light on this conversation to not scare you… but be clear that you are learning about widows and orphans in scripture and you need to know.

There are over 114 instructions in the Bible for caring for the poor and oppressed.  I want you to take some time to read just a few with your MOM and/or DAD, and decide together what things you can do to care for the orphans and widows.  Make a plan of action and be a doer of the Word!  You will have the weekend to catch up on Bible studies missed.  Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and begin pursuit of a life that is stain-free and pure before God!