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
Got a Mirror? At 74 years old, I often look in the mirror and say, “Don’t I know you?” James invites us to look in the mirror of the God who creates, redeems, and makes us holy. This reflection is a God-given view of people who are quick to listen but not quick to speak, of a people who are not controlled by anger. To look in the mirror is to see our lives as what God calls our lives to be. We are invited by Baptismal grace to be doers of God’s word and not hearers only. We are invited to look into the perfect law of freedom and live out our baptismal promise. To look into the mirror of God who in Baptism has sent us into the creation. To have a religion that we use not to justify how we defile the creation but to respond to God’s call to be people who care about the creation and all those who are separated and in distress.
Prayer
Holy and Triune God, forgive us when we hear, see, and then forget. Make us hearers who remember and doers who act.
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