“Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬ ‭CSB‬‬

I’ve always been fond of the book of James. It’s so easy to read and understand and full of useful, pithy wisdom. And why not, James was Jesus’s brother. Can you imagine growing up with Jesus! Clearly Jesus was very special to have a brother that literally worships Him. No sibling rivalry there. James got to learn from Jesus every day of his life. Today’s verse is one among many wonderful verses in his book. It describes what religion should be. In my mind, that is absolutely not what religion is. And it probably was not that in James’s day either. Religion seems more about rituals and activities that hope to appease some angry and needy god. Jesus didn’t want that. He made it clear by saying the most important command was to love. James is basically reiterating that here. True religion – the true way to please the true God – is about love. In particular, making sure no one goes unloved. In James’s day that was widows and orphans. Today, they are probably included, but there are so many more categories of people who fall through the cracks of society, missing out on love. Immigrants. People desperate to cross our border to find safety and hope for a future. Elderly. People who have worked all their lives and lost everyone they knew only to find themselves alone with nothing in a strange unpredictable world. Veterans. Prisoners. Homeless. Addicts. They are all unloved. It’s time to start practicing true religion. Starting with me.

Dear God,

Thank you for today’s reminder of what my religion should look like. Show me the people in my life who are lacking love and care. And show me how to care for them and love them they way you want me to. I want to worship you in this way today and everyday.