James 1: 26-27
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 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.

This passage begins with a word used only 5 times in the whole New Testament. Religion, two of those times is in the passage. The word translated as religion means the outward practice of one’s true beliefs. For Christians, this means service to the one true God! Pure religion has nothing to do with location of worship or specific days of celebration. Pure religion comes from our hearts and is practicing what we believe. Practicing God’s words means sharing it with others through our speech, service, and separation from the world.

We are called to share what we believe! One way to do this is through our words! Throughout the book of James, the tongue is referenced multiple times. In this passage the tongue, is the avenue to one’s heart! It is the tongue that reveals what a person believes. So, if the heart is right, the speech of each of us should reveal God’s love. What we say is of great importance and knowing how to share what you believe is crucial for others to experience God’s love.

This passage also brings up service is another key part of being bold in the Lord. Once we accept Christ, we share in the Love of God. This love should give us the eyes and hearts of Christ. This means that we should see those in need, in pain, or in crisis and have a desire to love them where they are! Speech is one part but if our hearts are of Christ acts of service should follow and be a natural part of our lives. God desires for His children to be Him on earth. God does not want us to pay for others to minister for us all the time. Giving is key but should not be a substitute from our hearts serving others.

The third part of being bold from this passage is being in but not of the world. “To keep oneself being polluted by the world,” means we should keep ourselves separate from the world’s desires and actions. As children of God, we are sent into the world to share and serve to show God’s Love to the world. If we are not careful, we can become part of the world. Think about two leaders in the Old Testament Lot and Abaraham. Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom, then became part of Sodom. When he became part of Sodom, Sodom moved into him, meaning God’s love became secondary. Eventually, he lost his testimony with his own family, the people of Sodom, and lost everything! Lot became part of the world while Abraham continued to be separate from the world and had a great ministry to the world. It is not necessary to compromise your beliefs and works to be part of the world but to be bold in order to be God’s love to those of the world.

The best way to be bold is to have speech, service, and separation of the world. The unified with God’s love will be a power Satan cannot tear down! The best way to be a witness of God’s love is the be pure in heart. All of our actions and words come from our hearts! Continue to seek the Lord with all your heart in order to be bold for the Lord!

Prayer: Psalm 51:10-12
Lord, create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. AMEN.