James 1:27 “27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” What is this verse talking about? ἐπισκέπτομαι episkeptomai"to inspect, look after, take care of or oversee" Women at the well Luke 4 Lepers Luke 5 Tax collector Luke 19 Ephesians 6:12 “12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Those who don't have their faith in God are more vulnerable to the schemes of the enemy, and their eternity is at stake. Why is this important? Because . James 2:21-24 “21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. James 4:2-4 “2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. (it's a response, but out of envy) You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. (it's a response, but out of lack and in anger) You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” This starts to point more towards the second call that James 1:27 gives as a definition of pure religion before God = “to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Matthew 25:21 “21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” Because . James 2:26“26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” Ephesians 2:8-10 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” How do we live this out? Ephesians 5:1-2“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” 3 simple ways = . . . PRAY Luke 10:39-42 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” GIVE “...gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Eph. 5:2 If we are to be imitators of Christ, how did He give? He gave . He gave a . Isaiah 1:11 “...what to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? I've had enough of your burnt offerings…” 1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us” GO “...walk in love, as Christ loved us…” Eph. 5:2 We pray boldly, we give everything and we go in love because that’s what Christ did.