The word "therefore" is becoming one of my favorite words in the bible. Usually it's found in some of the least favored passages because the tend to force you to reject the things of this world or the things you used to do. Usually the sentence that follows the word therefore gives me this gut-twisting feeling and elicits an "Ah man!" which are directly related to this little voice coming from my right shoulder telling me all the things I still do that the verse just told me not to.
(At this moment I'm totally picturing "Emperor's New Groove" when Kronk has the angel and devil on his shoulders telling him what to do. I love when the little devil guy uses the fact that he cando a one handed handstand as a reason as to why Kronk does what he wants...but any that's a story for another time).
Today's passage has that same sort of therefore. James is once again laying in to the people he is writing to and he is certainly not sugar coating it.
James 1:19-27 NIV
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
So now the big question is: "Is it worth it?" I really hope that if you are saying to yourself "Is what worth it?" that you go back and read the first two verses again.
If you did go back and read the verses, the you know we aren't talking about salvation here. The people James is writing to already believe and are saved through faith, but they are struggling with putting off the old and putting on the new. They are struggling with not trampling on the grace that was given to us by the blood of Jesus.
So James is giving the a worthwhile reason to change right here in the first chapter. It is not to earn your way into heaven. It's not just because God told you so or because it will make everything in your life go perfectly. The whole point of doing all those things you should do and NOT doing the things you SHOULDN'T do is because your actions have the opportunity to please God. It is worth it to change your heart, actions and mind if you can please God by doing so? He is the creator of the universe. He knit you together piece by piece in your mother's womb because he loves you. He sacrificed his son on a cross and let him bear all your pride, hate, selfishness, laziness, greed, immorality, lust, need I go on, just so he could be close to you.
So ask yourself... is it worth pleasing this God who loves you so deeply for you to actually do the things that are good for you and the people around you? Are you willing to put aside your fleshiness to put a smile on His glorious face?
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