March 19, 2019 – James 1:22-25

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the Word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. James 1:22-25.

The first day of Spring brings a renewal of growth and celebration for the warming of the earth.  Tomorrow is the day!  The first day of Forever!  We love to celebrate new beginnings when all things become new.  Even when it seems we can’t face another day, the hope of the Love of Jesus  gives us new life.

He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  2 Corinthians 5:15-17.  

Finding this new life and celebrating comes from the decision to refuse to let the world corrupt us.  Look into the mirror of your heart.  Search for the reflection of Jesus’ Love.

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 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. James 1:26-27.