She Reads Truth: JamesSample

Unstained By the World

I grew up a preacher’s kid, and each Sunday my mom had all four of us put on our best and head to church. I remember loving it when I was little but as I grew older I began to think, “Who cares what I wear? Church isn’t about clothing, and anyone who wants to judge me in church is awful anyway.”

To an extent, this is right. Jesus isn’t looking down with the side eye at our blue jeans and scuffed shoes. Church, or worshipping our Lord, doesn’t have rules about how we look. However, it hit me several years later as I dressed up to go on a date with my husband, “I give my very best to him, why wouldn’t I to my Creator?” My very best may not mean a Kate Spade bag and Marc Jacobs shoes (neither of which I own anyway), but it would be the best I have as I go to God’s home.

In this same regard, James tells us we are to have our religion “pure and undefiled before God.” How often do we strive to come before God with our best selves, asking for forgiveness and for the intercession of the Holy Spirit with our prayers? How often have we tried to keep his commandment on caring for “orphans and widows in their affliction” as we hold out our hands for more? Our faith isn’t based on works to receive the love and blessings of our Father, but if we love someone, we give them our best because we want to. We try to find out what their love language is in order to connect on a deeper level.

We see over and over again in the Bible that one of God’s love languages is His concern and tender heart for the poor and needy: “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow…” (Deuteronomy 10:18) “But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.” (Psalm 9:18) These words go far beyond commands. As Christians, they are a way for us to give the best of our human love and energy to the people placed in our paths that need us.

“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”
(2 Peter 3:14, NIV)

Click here to join the conversation with the SheReadsTruth community