Living in the Spirit

August 27, 2021

Scripture Reading:
James 1:17-27

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, ongoing away, immediately forget what they were like. But 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.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion 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. –James 1:22-27

The great thing about God is God created each of us with diverse skills and talents. These many attributes allow us to complement each other’s gifts as doers of the word resulting in wholeness, oneness, and justice for all God’s children. Diversity is sometimes messy. It requires us to love one another enough to recognize, enable, and celebrate our varied ways of serving God. Micah’s instruction, perhaps admonition, provides good guidance.  

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
   and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
   and to walk humbly with your God? –Micah 6:8

I do not think one can intentionally be humble. Humility is a state of being that exists when one is truly at home with being the person God created them to be while fully appreciating the role of others in God’s scheme of life.

Prayer: Help us look for and appreciate the gifts of all people as we work together doing your word.  Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.