Key Text: James 1:27 KJV - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Religion is either pure or vain. Sadly though, the religious life of many people falls short of God's standard. They go to Church, some even officiate as ministers, yet their lives are full of cursing, swearing, lying, evil-speaking and selfishness. The word of God says such people are deceiving themselves with vain religion. The world is filthy, and you must avoid being stained by it. Evil communications corrupt good manners.

God cannot be bribed with your vain service. Life is better than ministry. What is the point continuing with whatever you think you are doing for the Lord if you know that it is vanity and defiled before God? Examine your life and repent of vain religion which is hypocrisy. Jesus referred to the Pharisees as hypocrites because their religion was defiled: they were religious pretenders. 

Endeavour to do your responsibility towards your needy and afflicted neighbours. That is what it really means to love your neighbours as yourself and to do unto others as you would like them to do unto you. The Lord warns: "except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" - Matthew 5:20. 

Prayer: Lord, I want to please you with my life. Deliver me from hypocrisy, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Reflection: And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also - 1 John 4:21.