Latest / The Daily Word / July 17 – A Faith That Reflects God
Transcript
- Robert Rosales: Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, Lakeshore family. Whatever time of day you're joining me, welcome to the Daily Word Podcast. I'm Robert Rosales, and alongside my wife, Yolanda, we have the honor of serving as campus pastors at our Gastonia location. Just a reminder, especially for those of you joining us for the first time, this podcast is a simple space we share each day to slow down, open God's word. And pay attention to what he's saying. As a church family at Lakeshore, we are committed to meeting with God daily, not out of religious routine, but out of a relationship, through scripture, through prayer, and by capturing what the Holy Spirit is stirring in our hearts and how it connects to our everyday lives. Just a reminder: we're walking together through the life journal reading plan. And today we'll be focusing on the New Testament portion from that plan. When I invest time with the Lord, I try to keep things uncluttered. My Bible, my journal, and something to write with, and of course, a highlighter to mark what stands out in the scripture. I usually use a couple of trusted study tools to help me get a little deeper and stay grounded in the context. Not to replace God's word, but to help me listen more closely. And understand more clearly. We also use the SOAP method that's found in our life journal. It stands for scripture, observation, application, and prayer. I've been using this formula, this format, this tool for about 30 years. And it's a simple and practical way not just to read the Bible, but to respond to God as we're reading. Now, before we jump into today's passage, let's take a moment and prepare our hearts to hear the Lord as we read. Lord, as we open your word, we ask that you would open us by your Holy Spirit. Make your truth come alive in us. Give us ears to hear, hearts to receive, and courage to respond. Speak, Lord. We are listening in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, friends, today's passage for July 17th comes from James chapter 1, and I journaled from verse 27. It's the very last verse. There's so much in James chapter 1. It's like the Holy Spirit waited to speak to me clearly through the very last verse. Not only that, but you're gonna see the very last line of the very last verse. Verse. Let me read verse 27 out of the New King James. This is what it says. 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. Wow. There's so much in this. I've never really journaled on this verse before. Let me give it a title. This is the title for my journal entry. Pure Religion, a life that reflects God. Come on, say it with me. Pure religion, a life that reflects God. Here's my observation. It's quite beefy. So lean in with me. One of the things that stands out to me in this verse is that James describes true faith in two ways that seem at first like they don't belong together. He says pure religion is caring for people who are hurting. And second, keeping ourselves unspotted or unstained from the world. At first glance, it almost feels like James changes subjects. He goes from serving others to personal holiness. But when we look closer, we see that these two things are deeply connected. James is describing what a life transformed by God looks like. True faith is not only something we believe, it's something that changes how we live. James has already warned us be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1 22. He's reminding us that genuine faith is not just about attending, knowing, or saying the right things. A life connected to God will produce both compassion toward others and transformation within ourselves. The first evidence James gives is caring for orphans and widows in their affliction. These represented some of the most vulnerable people in society, those who had no power, influence, or ability to repay anything. The world often teaches us to focus on ourselves. Isn't that true? Protect your comfort. Pursue your own success. Invest only where you receive something in return. But the heart of God moves towards those who are overlooked, those who are hurting and in need. When we serve people who cannot benefit us, we reflect God's character. The second piece of evidence is to keep oneself unstained or unspotted from the world. This doesn't mean removing ourselves from people or isolating ourselves from society. Remember what Jesus prayed? I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. That's John 17 15. Being unspotted or unstained from the world means. We refuse to let the values of a broken world shape our hearts. The world says, live for yourself, find your identity in what you have, seek recognition and status, put yourself first. But Jesus teaches us: love God above everything, serve others, walk in humility, live for eternal things. James is showing us that true religion has both clean hands and a clean heart. Clean hands means our faith reaches outward. We love, serve, and care for others. A clean heart means our faith reaches inward. We allow God to transform our desires, attitudes, and priorities. These two things belong together because the same God. Who calls us to love people also calls us to become more like Him. A faith that focuses only on personal holiness while ignoring hurting people can become self-centered. A faith that serves only others while ignoring personal transformation can become empty activity. Pure religion is both. A heart that looks like God and hands that serve like God. Let me say that again. A heart that looks like God and hands that serve like God. The question James leaves us with is not simply do I practice religion? The question is, does my life reflect the heart of God, both in how I love people and in how I live before Him? So, church, what's the application? How does this apply to my life? This is what I wrote down. See if it resonates with you. These verses are a great reminder for me. My relationship with God should transform me, not just what I believe or how I think, but how I live and treat others. I want to reflect the Father in the world around me. Going forward, I will move with intentional application of both the character and actions of a man who reflects God. I want to love and care for people, especially those who need help. And I want to do so in a way that reflects the kingdom of God rather than the darkness of this world. Here's my prayer. Father God, thank you for speaking to me today through your word. Holy Spirit, help me live in pure religion. With a heart and life that reflects God. Today, fresh and anew, I offer you my heart, my mind, and my hands. Use me, God, to point others to you. I ask these things and I thank you for them. In Jesus' name, Amen. Lakeshore family, as you go about your day, my prayer is that you'll develop a hunger for God and his word like you've never had before. As you go, God will open your eyes to the riches of his word, giving you revelation and life-changing insight that will help you become everything God has called you to be, fulfilling your mission, purpose, and plan for our great Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thanks for joining me today on the Daily Word podcast. I hope this encourages you to stay faithful in the Word and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. God bless you. And we'll catch you again tomorrow.