“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27
The closer we draw near to God the more we become like him. The nearer we come to the heart and mind of God, the more that we reflect His heart and mind. We begin to think what God thinks and feel what God feels.
So, true religion, or genuine sanctification, can be described like this: you visit orphans and widows and do not roll in the mud with the rest of the world.
The grace of God changes us into his image and we begin to bear his likeness. If God the Holy Spirit dwells in you, it will show. There will be some evidence of His presence, some inkling of His likeness in your life.
You come to the Lord’s Table with the Lord’s Spirit within you.
How are you bearing God’s likeness in your life?
Are you visiting widows and orphans?
Are you saying “no” to the shallow thinking and empty pleasures of the world?
Does the gift of faith and the strength that you derive from this communion with God making inroads in your life in a practical way?
We come to the table with faith, plus nothing. But true faith is never alone. Faith breaks the surface in some evident way. What is the evidence that your faith is real, and that it is working?
If you have no evidence, you may not have faith. You must have faith in Christ crucified, risen, and reigning to come to this table. But even if you have weak faith or small faith – you are to come and commune with the Savior.