i talk like a sailor.

James 1:26-27

 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 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.

Religious - thrēskos (fearing or worshiping God, to tremble)

vv. 26, 27: Religion - thrēskeia (external religious worship, religious discipline)

Hi, my name is Sarah Rowland Davis; I was born into a loving and supportive Christian family. I grew up going to church my whole life, going on missions trips, going to a Christian school (aside from being homeschooled), and I was very involved in all of the church activities. I was religious if you asked my family, church friends, and some of my homeschool/high school friends. But if you were to ask my non-Christian friends if I was religious they would laugh and say “well not when we are around…” Aside from my “religious” background, I would curse, rebel against my parents, rebel against God, and do all the things I knew I shouldn’t do. I was a two-faced, lying, hypocrite. I could not control my tongue, I was fooling myself and everyone around me, my religion was <WORTHLESS.> I can now honestly come before you and God and say I am still a hypocrite, but by the Grace of God He has changed my life drastically. I have put my faith and religion before God so He can make it pure and genuine. ~ You may be thinking; “well how does she do that?” and my answer would be: I know I am a sinner, I know I mess up I know I cannot do this by myself, I know I need God for my religion to be real. So I humble myself before the Lord and rely on Him for the things I try to rely on myself or others for, I seek His forgiveness when I fail and I move forward from my past, I am in His word daily and I am always finding time and ways to talk to Him. I am refusing to let this world corrupt me! Anything is possible with Jesus Christ. *Keep in mind, this verse is not saying to only do these 3 commands and your religion will be pure, those are just some examples of being a servant to the Lord.

Galatians 5:13 “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”

Answer This:

1.  Would you say you have a fake or genuine religion? Why or why not?

2.  What are some ways you can go about keeping your religion pure and genuine?

3.  Are you using your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature? or are you using your freedom to keep your religion pure and genuine? How so?  

Take some time in your day to read/ focus on God’s word and talk to Him (aside from this devotional). That is how your relationship with Him grows

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Written by Sarah Davis