January 29 Daily Devotional

Scripture for Day 29—James 1:26–27

²⁶ If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 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.

Devotional:

Just as economists look for "leading economic indicators," God specifies three leading spiritual indicators in James 1:26–27. What are three signs of a genuine relationship with God? We'll reflect on them one day at a time.

The first is truly searching—do you control your tongue? "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless," (v. 26). You may be able to deceive others into thinking that you are religious, but if you cannot keep a tight rein on your tongue, you may at the same time be deceiving yourself! "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, [he] deceives his heart…" (v. 26). The telltale sign is, do you bridle your tongue? On the one hand, do you constrain your tongue?

On the other hand, do you consecrate your tongue? Do you consciously speak in order to glorify God and edify others? "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear" (Eph. 4:29). Not only should your words not tear down, but also they should positively build up.

How do you use words? Alexander Whyte recommended that we ask ourselves three questions before we say anything: "Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?"

According to God, your speech is a telling signal as to the reality of your religion. Our Lord Jesus says that your words manifest your heart,

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil." (Matt. 12:33-35).

Again God's Word exposes how desperately we need the grace of God in Christ. Christianity is not a mere code of ethics; it is the story of how God saves sinners. We need the forgiveness that Christ alone can win. We need the new hearts that God alone can give. We need the "self-control" that the Holy Spirit alone can produce (Gal. 5:23). That's why your use of words is a leading spiritual indicator.

Click here for background on the author of Are You For Real?: Meditations in the Epistle of James for Secret or Family Worship.