It is so easy to fall into the trap of a religious routine. But without the right heart, it is meaningless. James wants us to have pure and undefiled religion that is genuine, and not merely for show.

James has been challenging us to live out the faith that we claim to have. In the last few verses, James has exhorted us to receive the Word. Today, in the text before us, he exhorts us to respond to the Word.

James now transitions from admonition and exhortation to the Word of God as a subject for consideration. He transitions to the Word of Truth so that we can live our lives in response. James says that the Word of God plays a key role in our spiritual growth. And he refers to 3 attitudes we must have towards the Word.

James is confronting a common error that believers make when they go through tough times. James' message to his readers back then, and to us today, is not to be deceived. He says this because his readers were being deceived about the character of God. In an ultimate sense, the deception is caused by Satan. Whilst Satan doesn't have the ability to deceive everyone at the same time, he uses the world system to deceive us and conform us to its image and its standards. And this goes all the way back to the garden! Satan’s schemes haven't changed one bit. he continues to propagate the lie that what God has forbidden is actually better for us.

The danger in trials is that we come to trust in our own abilities. What passes the test of trials is a good faith and attitude.

When trials come, what do you turn to, and hope in? Trials lay bare our hearts' discontent with God. It is God's purpose to bring them as a way of recovering our hope in Him.

James is encouraging his readers and us to persevere through trials by having the right perspective. And to have a right perspective in trials, what we need is wisdom that comes from above. We need to recognise that we are at the end of ourselves and that God (and only He) has the wisdom that we lack. How do we define wisdom? Wisdom is the God-given ability to apply His instructions for living our daily lives. This is not about mere knowledge, but practical living.

Trials are the crucibles that reveal who we really are. To respond rightly when life gets tough, we first need to have a joyful attitude. That is, we are to understand trials as from God. Joy is not about emotions, as we may still be downcast, but it is the decision to look up in faith.

James' challenge for his readers is to live out their faith. True faith always demonstrates a love for God, and others.