James 1:17-27 (NRSV)
Read James 1:17-27 on biblegateway.com
Verse 17Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Verse 18In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
Verse 19You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; Verse 20for your anger does not produce God's righteousness. Verse 21Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. Verse 22But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. Verse 23For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; Verse 24for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. Verse 25But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act-they will be blessed in their doing. Verse 26If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Verse 27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Devotion
James, Martin Luther’s “Epistle of Straw,” produces for us a manger in which Christ is born. This birth is physical, James demands, but is shaped and created by a word of truth. This word floated above the waters and snapped like the wings of a dove, calling forth light from dark, day from night. Of course, one isn’t better than the other. There is no variation in God, the Father of lights.
“In him there is no darkness at all, the night and the day are both alike,” hums the hymn. As the word created in the beginning, it creates now. We are first hearers of the word, then this word creates us to be doers. Martin Luther wrote, “You cannot separate faith from works, just as you cannot separate heat from its flame and light.” Faith has the power to take root in our lives, pointing us beyond ourselves, to the neighbor, here given shape as orphans and widows in their distress.
Prayer
Father of lights, every good gift comes from you and you give us what we need for this body and life. Teach us to be quick to listen and slow to speak, always bearing in mind the neighbor whom you give us. Through Jesus Christ, who in meekness has saved us and bears us on our way. Amen.