Throwing it Aside

Bible Verse James 1:21-24
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

We deceive ourselves when we hear, receive, but do not do. We cannot be who God created us to be without being true to His Word, which brings life... The Word of the God who made us.

The pastor at church yesterday said that people want to see God. They really do. It is a sad thing when the Christian community does not reflect who God really is. Reflect who He made us to be. We forget who we are when we walk away and become what our flesh desires. Become just what we would naturally in our hearts follow.

Lord, help your church to lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness. Help us to reflect who you made us to be. Help us to show Jesus to others. I pray you would use me today to reflect Jesus to the church that I serve as I teach. We are but flesh. You, on the other hand, are perfect. Walk with us, your church, and help us to throw aside all temptations to be worldly. Help us to teach and model for our children what you value. Help us to take Your Light to this dark world where the harvest is ripe. I pray for these kids today that I teach. I pray that they would know what it means to be a light and to take it to the world and their neighborhood around them. Help me to model this to my own children. Help us not to stay in our "safety net" but to look in the mirror, see you, and then, walk away and be you to any one who needs you. Give us a heart for the world.

Amen.