Devotion for Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.James 1:21

My Commentary:

In today’s verse we see a second “wherefore”.  We see two commands in this verse, which are really two steps.  The first is “lay apart” and the second is to “receive”.

What are we called to lay apart?  The answer- “filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness”.  “Superfluity” here means “overflow”.  Like someone taking off dirty, old, smelly clothes, we must get out of our old, sinful behavior and ways of thinking.  Remember back in verse 15 James told us that sin, when it is full grown brings death.  That’s what we should put away from us.  But this is just the first part.

The next command is to “receive”.  What do we recieve?  The “engrafted” or implanted word.  When sin is full grown it brings death, but when God’s Word is planted in our hearts it brings life!  It “saves our souls”!  How should we receive God’s Word?  “With meekness”.  We ought to be humble and understanding of who we really are.

Application-

What old, tired, filthy, and sinful behavior and ways of thinking are in your life right now?  Put those away!  Talk to God about them. Romans 10:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  But don’t stop there, get into God’s Word and plant it way down into your heart.  “I will hide your Word in my heart, that I might night sin against thee.