true religion

True religion can be summed up in the wise, unadorned words of Micah: "And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) The book of James adds on to this with the only passage in which the word 'religion' actually occurs: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)

True religion happens when the gospel takes root in a person’s heart. When that happens, desires change. Instead of trying to find satisfaction in gods who do not answer and things of this world, believers find contentment, joy, and peace in relationship with God—and his promise of eternal life. This is the essence of what is often called the greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37) 

And love for God leads to love for others. The second greatest commandment is simply to "love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:39) This love works itself out in our lives in a number of ways, not the least of which is in caring for the poor and pursuing what the Bible calls holiness—harkening back to the directive to be unpolluted by this world. 

Love for God leads to tangible action. People who love the one true God will begin to see themselves as less important and will put the needs of others ahead of their own. They will freely sacrifice time, talent, energy, and money to care for those around them who need help, whether spiritually or materially. And they do it not because they feel a need to earn God’s approval or pay him back for what he has done in their lives, but simply because they want to; they feel compelled by their love for the Lord. 

This is the essence of true religion. 

The pursuit of true religion—a life lived out of thankfulness for what God has done for us in sending Jesus Christ to live perfectly, to die for our sins, and to rise from death to give us the promise of eternal life—brings glory and praise to God. A life lived in relationship with God is what we are called to pursue if we put our faith in Jesus Christ.

A Deeper Look at What the Bible Says about Religion 

The Cry of the Poor by John Michael Talbot - YouTube

              faith 

                      hope 

                               love