Pure Motives

James 1: 27 ESV

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

Our religion is outward acts of devotion to God because of our inward conviction. Religion that is pure is motivated by pure motives to serve God faithfully, and to help ourselves keep our convictions pure, and to help others in need. Those who may be lonely, or who need a helping hand, or who may just need someone to show them love and acceptance, and that someone cares about them. This is an outward focus.

The second part of this verse is an inward focus: “to keep oneself unstained from the world. James says, “from the world.” In other words, we do not allow the world’s paganism to infiltrate our minds; we do not revel in its sinful ways. We do not follow after the world and its desires; we keep ourselves from being polluted inside our hearts and minds from the things of this world.

Our dedication in Christianity is to serve God first, then to outwardly show true mercy to others, and inwardly to keep our lives from being stained with the things of this world.

Prayer:

Lord, work through us to fulfill this mandate of outward dedication and inward purification. Help us to be devoted to You first. Keeping ourselves from being stained with sin. Then help us to watch and listen for whom we should come alongside to strengthen them and show them pure love. In Your name, Lord Jesus, we pray, amen!