Laura J. Davis
  • Home
    • About
    • My Testimony
  • Bible Studies
    • Devotionals
  • Blog
  • Bookstore
  • Interviews & Reviews
  • Home
    • About
    • My Testimony
  • Bible Studies
    • Devotionals
  • Blog
  • Bookstore
  • Interviews & Reviews



​Unlocking God's Word

How the Scriptures Can Save our Souls

2/25/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:26-27, NKJV).

The NKJV version of James 1:21 says: "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."

The word “implanted” comes from the Greek word emphytos which means to be “implanted or rooted.” So James is essentially saying that the Word of God is like a seed that is rooted or implanted in the heart. The more we read it, the more it begins to shape our thoughts and actions because it becomes a part of us. And what happens when that seed grows? It develops into the beautiful Spirit of Christ!

This is why it can save our souls. But, James warns, we must not be hearers of the Word only, we must also be doers of the Word. We must live it out. Why? Because it reinforces within us the kind of people we now are in Christ. People who visit orphans and widows, feed the hungry, care for the homeless, visit the sick and keep themselves unspotted from the world.

In the verse above the words “religion” or “religious” comes from the Greek word thrēskeia which signifies “religion” in its external aspect. In other words – the outer trappings. It is meant in regards to the Jewish faith. This applies, I believe, to all religious institutions that put more emphasis on ceremony, rules or rituals than on caring for those in need (i.e., orphans and widows). 

Our faith must be firmly rooted in the Word of God if we are to grow, but it mustn’t stop there. We must go out into the world to share God’s love with others.
 
Faith that works means going out into the world to spread God’s love.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    October 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    July 2018
    June 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

    Categories

    All
    Angels
    Anger
    Baptism
    Beatitudes
    Bible
    Bible Study
    Blessings
    Book Of James Bible Study
    Confession
    Demons
    Devotion
    Devotional
    Ephesians
    Exhortation
    Faith
    False Prophets
    False Teachers
    Fasting
    Forgiveness
    God's Plans
    God's Will
    God's Word
    Grace
    Healing
    Heaven
    Hope
    Jesus
    Judging
    Knowing Jesus Series
    Lamb Of God
    Love
    Peace
    Practising Holiness
    Prayer
    Predestination
    Prophecy
    Prosperity Gospel
    Psalms
    Repentance
    Satan
    Sermon On The Mount
    Serving
    Sexual Immorality
    Spiritual Gifts
    Submission
    Submitting To God
    Suffering
    Teaching
    Torah
    Trust
    Universalism
    Worry

© 2014 Laura J. Davis. All Rights Reserved.
Photos used under Creative Commons from John 9:25, symphony of love