Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress...
James 1:27 NIV
Yesterday we thought about the "who".
Today it's the "when"
"In their distress"
In someone's time of need will I step in?
Step towards their distress, their hurt, their need.
Their mess.
The Greek word used for distress is "thlipsis".
It means persecution, affliction, distress, tribulation.
And it has the meaning of being hemmed in, without choices, when there seems no way out.
So, James tells us our religion should take us towards people who are the hurt, the marginalised, the discarded, and in their distress, when they're really feeling like there's no way forward, no way out, when they have no choices, to walk with them to find a way out.
To help find options.
Jim is not prescriptive about how that looks, so it's going to look different for you and for me, so how could this apply in 2019?
The expression of our love for God, is found in loving people - in their distress.
#loveGod
#lovepeople
#walkingeachotherhome
Genesis 15.8-18.ESV But he said O Lord God , how am I to know that I shall possess it? ...When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram... March 15 was the last day we looked at Abram's story...he was questioning God and this is God's response...sacrifices and smoke and fire and a covenant...a promise... Isn't that what we crave for sometimes? God, if only you'd just show me smoke & fire, a burning bush a sign, miracle, healing...then all my questions would disappear...all my doubts would be gone... 2moro we'll see Abram's response but I think God values our faith in spite of our questions and doubts. That we choose Him anyway #faith
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