Staying the course

Matthew 25:34-45

1. Why may we miss opportunities to serve Jesus?

Whatever we do for our brothers, we do it for Jesus.

Thus, whatever we do not do for our brothers, we do not serve Jesus.

James 1:22-27

2. Why may we be deceived when we read scripture?

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 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.