James 1:21 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.
James gives us two key commands that are consistent with many other passages in the Bible: get rid of the bad and embrace the good. The choice is up to us. We must get rid of anything that makes us unclean. As God’s holy people, we must seek purity of heart and outward living. There is so much in the world today that entices us to compromise our standards. The world by its very nature is full of temptation because people live for themselves and not for God. James also mentions staying away from the evil that is everywhere.
The way to do this is humility. Humility opens us to receive God’s grace and strength. The word planted in us is the truth of the gospel, which is given through the printed word of the Bible and the oral word of those who preach and teach it. This involves both individual engagement with God’s word and studying and growing with others. The gospel of Jesus, the message about salvation in Him, can grow into salvation. Humility is the attitude that is prepared to receive, hear, and obey what is given to us. It opens us to listen and is the core requirement for worship.
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