Inspirational Bible Verses - James 1:21 - When you need help

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”

James 1:21

Get rid of all moral filth. Unseat and eliminate deeply engrained habits which have developed over time and have held me prisoner for years. How will I ever do that, when these things literally own me?

Have you ever felt this way? I have, so I was pretty much just reliving it. I can remember sitting in my car, in Orlando, Florida. It was 1990, seems like a real long time ago. But I remember the feeling clearly. Here we go again, can’t stop. And I prayed.

At the time, these Christians had been showing up at my apartment each week, asking me if I wanted to study the Bible. They were really nice, I liked them. Had no issue whatsoever with the Bible either, nor Jesus. I considered myself to be a Christian. My mom made sure we went to church each week as long as I still lived in her house. But I had stopped going to church.

The nice evangelicals who had been coming by seemed to have this odd fixation on Jesus. He was always a major player in my view, but they considered Him to be THE man. And God for that matter. Savior, God, redeemer, Brother, Friend, co-Creator of the universe, once and future King, they really assigned Him a place above all others. Told me He could save me. I was beginning to feel that being saved might be a good idea.

I remember feeling kind of desperate and asking Jesus to help me. Turns out I had some real rough road ahead, but He did help. Just had to do it in the only way possible, as I have always learned the hard way. My dad used to ask me “Why do you always have to learn the hard way?” I never knew, but I do now. The answer can be found in the book of Romans, it describes me well.

So how do you get rid of the moral filth? I don’t think you do. I think only God can, through His work in you. I drive by a church regularly, which has a simple sign on it, it says “God Can”. And it’s true, He can even when we can’t.