DATE POSTED
Thursday, April 16, 2026, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa Apartment Homes, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read James 1:26-27 in your Bible or click on it to read it online in the New Living Translation (NLT).

²⁶ If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
I hope you’ve taken a moment to read the verses referenced above, as they’ll help you better grasp the context of this devotional.

When a person surrenders the lordship of their life to Jesus and accepts Him as Savior, they are doing more than making a statement—they are inviting Him to transform their life. It is a commitment to be redirected, to live in a way that reflects the life Jesus lived on earth, with the hope of one day being with Him in glory forever.

On the other hand, to reject Jesus as Lord is to choose to continue living life on one’s own terms. It is a decision to remain in sin, despite understanding where that path ultimately leads. Scripture makes it clear that there are eternal consequences tied to that choice.

In James 1:26–27, we find a strong and necessary warning for those who have accepted Christ. We are reminded that we cannot claim to follow Jesus and yet continue living as we did before knowing Him. A life unchanged calls into question the sincerity of our faith. Much like in a marriage, where unfaithfulness and neglect create division, a disconnect between what we profess and how we live reveals a deeper issue of the heart.

If we say that Jesus is Lord, then our lives should reflect that truth.

James points us to what genuine faith looks like: controlling our speech, caring for those in need, and remaining unstained by the world. This is not about outward appearances or popular measures of spirituality—it is about a heart that has truly been changed and a life that demonstrates it.

It’s interesting how easily we can become focused on visible or debated aspects of church life, while overlooking the foundational call to simply be like Jesus. Yes, there are many important responsibilities within the body of Christ, but before all else, we are called to reflect Him in every area of our lives.

If Jesus is truly Lord, then let’s not live halfway or hope that our intentions are enough. Let’s be intentional about walking in His footsteps, honoring His Word, and fully obeying His commands.

After all, God knows what we say, He sees what we do, and He even knows our thoughts. We cannot fool Him—but we can choose to please Him.

So let us live in such a way that others see Christ in us—through our words, our actions, and our love. And may our lives encourage others to surrender to Jesus and follow Him wholeheartedly.

PRAYER
If we are to truly trust and follow You and Your commands, Lord Jesus, there is much that must change in our lives. So I come humbly, asking that You work powerfully in our hearts today and open our eyes to see You and all Your marvelous works. Please give us a deep desire to grow more like You each day and to freely show Your love through us to everyone we meet. Prepare the hearts of those we will encounter today so they can easily see Jesus in us and be inspired to know You personally. AMEN

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. I pray that one of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin, or continue, your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org, or if you choose, subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, as you will also find that option on this page. Friends, I encourage you to find a Bible teaching church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian Walk while you invite God to work through you to bless them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!