Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this…to keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27, NKJV
My principal often used my spacious classroom for faculty meetings after school. Since my room had no student desks and plenty of space for adult-size folding chairs, it was a natural gathering place. I was happy to share it as an act of hospitality. Still, I couldn’t help but cringe when I watched my colleagues walk in carrying coffee cups and stacks of papers. The sight of someone setting a coffee cup on the floor beside a chair made me especially nervous!
After 20 years of teaching in old buildings, I was grateful for my newly remodeled classroom with freshly painted walls and new carpet. I treasured that spotless carpet. I knew that if someone spilled coffee, the stain might remain until summer—and even then, it might never come out completely.
That experience reminds me of James 1:27 and his challenge to “keep oneself unspotted from the world.” Just as I was careful to protect my new carpet from anything that might stain it, we must be intentional about guarding our hearts and lives from the things that can slowly pull us away from Christ.
Spiritual “stains” don’t always appear all at once. Sometimes they develop gradually as we become consumed by busyness, hold on to resentment, compromise our values, or allow unhealthy attitudes to take root. When we are trying to balance the many demands of life, it can be easy to lose sight of the One we are called to follow.
Remaining unspotted doesn’t mean living in fear of the world around us or believing we can make ourselves perfect. It means staying close to Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts, and being willing to respond when He reveals something that needs to change. And when we do stumble or become stained by sin, we don’t have to hide it. Jesus is faithful to forgive, cleanse, and restore us.
Today, ask the Holy Spirit to gently examine your heart. Is there a place where anger, bitterness, pride, impatience, or unkindness has begun to take root? Bring it to Jesus. He can cleanse what we cannot clean ourselves and restore what has been stained.
Lord, search our hearts and show us anything that is drawing us away from You. Reveal the attitudes and actions that need to change, and help us guard our hearts while remaining faithful and loving toward those around us. Thank You for Your forgiveness and for Jesus, who continually cleanses and restores us. Amen.
Copyright Shirley Wilson.
Shirley is a retired Christian Educators member and a former board member.
