Tomorrow is Orphan Sunday at church; special emphasis on caring for the fatherless. While at the church for prayer time this morning I turned to James, chapter 1. The book of James has been special to me since the 8th grade, but the last verse of chapter one has held special significance for several years now. I love how it reads in the Amplified version. I know it's kind of "wordy" but that's the point of the Amplified. It adds depth and broadens the meaning to give a bigger picture of what the text is saying. It says in verse 27,
"External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world."
I want to bring pure worship to the LORD. He is worthy. He is Good. Every good and perfect gift in our lives comes from Him. He deserves my all...and yours. This verse teaches what pure worship looks like. How do we express [in outward acts] what we feel in our heart toward God? He says we do that by, first of all, visiting...helping...and caring for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need.
What is an orphan? An orphan is someone who lost their dad by death or abandonment.
What is a widow? A widow is someone who lost their husband by death.
God is our Father. And since we (His Church) are referred to as the Bride of Christ, He is our Husband.
So, what is an orphan in the broader sense? Anyone who is living without God and who does not know Him as Father. That person is spiritually Fatherless.
And who is a widow in the broader sense? Anyone who does not know Jesus Christ (by experience) and has not become a part of His Bride.
Therefore, pure religion expressed in outward acts is yes, to visit and help and care for the literal orphans and widows on this planet but also, I believe, it is to visit and help and care for those who are not in a relationship with the Father and do not know His Son, Jesus Christ...spiritual widows and orphans.
The verse ends with the second way we express pure worship...by keeping ourselves unspotted or uncontaminated by the world. Jesus said, we are in the world but we are not of it. We live here but this is not our home. We don't do as the world does or think as the world thinks...we are sojourners looking for that City, our eternal destination. What a day that will be! But while we're here we seek to bring His kingdom to earth partnering with Him to see the broken restored, the lost recovered, the wanderer brought home.
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers (and sisters), in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-2)
May we be blessed with ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to His church.
