Superfluity of naughtiness

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1v21 

There are certain phrases that I grew up with in my Christian life that just sound right. (By the way, I didn’t realise until later in the day that yesterday was my 35^th spiritual birthday!) . This phrase from the KJV in James 1v21.-  ‘Superfluity of naughtiness’ has a much better ring to it than ‘overflow of wickedness.’ But favouring an old phrase is not my purpose today. 

James is a book of practicality. There is a lot about living and serving here. The next verse talks about the ‘doing’ of the Christian life, but this verse prepares us for that one. 

God’s word has the power to save our souls. It saved us at salvation. It is saving us daily as we grow and mature. It will one day complete the salvific process. (Sorry, I have wanting to use that word for a while). Because of its power we are called on to meekly receive the word as it is engrafted in our lives. 

But we can’t do that unless we first are willing to lay aside all the filthiness and ‘superfluity of naughtiness’ in our lives. I don’t think I need to explain what that means. We all know what filth and superfluity of naughtiness we have to deal with in our own lives. The question has to be what we are going to do about it. 

We make it very complicated with books, videos, websites, and seminars. God makes it very simple – ‘lay it aside.’ Put it in the bin, take it to the dump, and leave it there. 

Lay aside all the filth. Lay aside the superfluity of naughtiness. Meekly receive the engrafted word of God whish is the only thing that saves out souls.