December 14, 2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“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.” (James 1.27)

“So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7.12)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

I know I must bring us back in these reflections to their genesis which rises up out of James 1.27 which describes “pure and faultless” religion. Religion is the practice of one’s faith being devoted and accountable to the higher authority above all others. In all of these descriptors of “righteousness” which Jesus laid out in His Sermon on the Mount[ainside], the listening audience of every age is confronted with “the Way, the Truth and the Life” by which entrance into Heaven to stand before God without fear and shame is gained. It is in Christ and by Him alone that we have life and have it abundantly. We have it because His life on earth as it is in Heaven is contingent on the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Rereading the lead scriptures yesterday shows us how this is necessary. And focusing on “The Golden Rule” (Matthew 7.12) reiterates what His life was, what our lives are meant to be and what shall be for all eternity for believer and unbeliever alike.

“So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” We are called in the righteousness of God to be “everything people.” I do not say we are called to be “all things to all people” apart from the way the Apostle Paul declared “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” (1 Corinthian 9.22) For Paul this meant to be conversive in the ways of the people whom he served with equal intensity as he was with the way, the truth and the life of Christ who made and makes God apparent. He did not act like all people but was able to engage by understanding the way, the truth and the life which their culture professed. It was by this that he was able to bring into parallel the teachings of Jesus and thus the promise of God with their own knowledge and understanding. By so doing this, he was able to lead them into making a wise decision and praying that they would. That decision, of course, is to accept Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ and to profess Him alone as Lord and Savior and thus practice that “pure and faultless” religion. 

What he did not interpret “love one another” to mean was to surrender one’s ethics, morals, wisdom and faith in order to look like, by word and deed, other people. In all things, Paul remained firmly committed to the ministry to which he had been called. He had been transformed by the renewal of his mind out of the pharisaical expressions of self-righteousness into the authentic righteousness of God. He was honest, as we should be as well, that he was not perfect. He had those times, as do we, when the things he did not want to do- he did. In equal measure there were those times when the things he desired to do- he did not do. Yet, in all times and in everything, he maintained the purpose and intentionality which had made his life authentic and filled with meaning. He professed to the members of the body of Christ in Philippi, “I have learned to be content in all things and in all ways regardless of circumstances so that I might win some. I can do this only through Christ who gives me the strength to do so.” (Philippians 4.11+) Wholly and fully committed to do what is right and good. Equally committed to confessing the glitches and failures to live a “pure and faultless” life, Paul uttered his need for the continuing saving grace of God which was his, and ours, through Jesus the Christ. But that, too, was doing what was right and good in this life and on each day. Remember, while we are far from perfect in this world, we are called to strive toward such perfection as that which God perfectly addresses us. It is the implementation and full demonstration of that Golden Rule.

Thus, we are confronted with this teaching of Jesus, in the midst of those lessons on judgmentalism, to practice such diligence of faith and faithfulness in everything we do. There can be no such thing as a part-time religion or a sometimes faith. You will never hear that old gospel hymn as “Gimme that sometimes religion, gimme that part-time religion, gimme that maybe religion… that’s good enough for me.“ No, in everything, in all times, in all places, in all situations, in all conditions we ought to be content to know that God has a plan and a way. He has demonstrated such a life of righteousness intended for us through His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, as Son of God and Son of Man. The whole hope of the gospel is that it is left to us for our instruction and encouragement as to the reality of living such a life in all its ups and downs, trials and tribulations as well as in good times and in bad. We are to improve ourselves to be ready to reflect that life of righteousness in everything we say and do. We are to strive to do so “perfectly.” That means simply that we do it without thinking as it has become first nature to us and not second nature. Following what Paul said about all of this, we hear, “In all things, pray without ceasing; give thanks at all times as is the will of God made known to us in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5.11+) So, mighty ones of God, heed the teaching of Jesus which tells us “to do to others what we would want them to do to us” in everything and at all times. We must set the standard and be the standard bearers in all of our circles with our successes and our striving to overcome our failures with the success of Christ in us by His mercy and grace.

PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain this eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.