Jesus came to serve, not to be served.
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.
James 1:27 (ESV)
If we are followers of Jesus, we serve those around us. We serve those who have authority over us, and we serve those over whom we have authority. We serve friends, family, neighbors, and strangers.
Jesus came to serve, not to be served. If we serve, we do so in a way that helps the one we serve. The Scriptures teach us that we do not serve others to enable but to empower. This verse talks about the most vulnerable of their day, the orphans and widows, and reminds us that those who genuinely love God will care for their needs.
The second thought in this verse is that those in an honest relationship with God will also keep themselves "unstained" from the world. True believers care for the needy and ignore their day's Godless philosophies and propaganda.
A statement like this helps us correctly define what God has and is saying so we can apply the truth to our lives.
James 1:27 (ESV)
If we are followers of Jesus, we serve those around us. We serve those who have authority over us, and we serve those over whom we have authority. We serve friends, family, neighbors, and strangers.
Jesus came to serve, not to be served. If we serve, we do so in a way that helps the one we serve. The Scriptures teach us that we do not serve others to enable but to empower. This verse talks about the most vulnerable of their day, the orphans and widows, and reminds us that those who genuinely love God will care for their needs.
The second thought in this verse is that those in an honest relationship with God will also keep themselves "unstained" from the world. True believers care for the needy and ignore their day's Godless philosophies and propaganda.
A statement like this helps us correctly define what God has and is saying so we can apply the truth to our lives.
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