James, I & II Peter, I John

As I wind down this year, I have two days to read the rest of the Bible, so I will read about 15 chapters apiece and will be done on New Year's Eve.  Usually I end a day or two early.  Here are some thoughts I had as I read today: 1) THE PROBLEM- I am an advocate of traditional church.  I make no apologies for that because I think I am on good historical ground and good biblical ground.  The emerging church movement wants to befriend the world to reach the world.  We are told in scripture to befriend Christ and reach the world because He loves the people of the world.  Not their attitudes, dress, actions, influence, etc...  He just loves sinners!  Now, here is the problem:  James 4:4  "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."  The new church movement wants to dress like the world, act like the world, sing like the world, have music like the world, and yet.... the are winning almost no one, because they are such a friend of the world, they are not the friend of God, but rather the enemy.  Now, friend, that is Bible!  Just who do we want to get close to anyway?  I choose God.  (but I also prayed with 3,350 people so far this year around this planet personally. Not counting those led to Christ in church services.) 2) PATIENCE- James 5:7  "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."   James 5:8  "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh".  James 5:10  "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience."  James 5:11  "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."   We need patience in waiting for Christ's return. 3) CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY- I Peter 5:5 says:  "... and be clothed with humility:  for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."  Then verse 6 says:  "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"   Let us ever strive as believers to be "clothed in humility", for God loves us dressed that way! 4) REMEMBRANCE- 2 Peter 1:12  "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth."   2 Peter 1:13  "Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;"       2 Peter 1:15  "Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance."   2 Peter 3:1  "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:"    Peter wanted to remind people of God's truth.  He wanted long after he was gone to remember the truth of God's Word, so he sought diligently to keep them in remembrance.  We should do the same! Well, I have much more I could write about, but this will have to do.  I hope you have a blessed day, and a Happy New Year!  Let 2010 be the best year of our lives for drawing close to the Savior and serving Christ more, and being blessed of God throughout the year!  Blessings on you!  Pastor Mike Mutchler, Grand View Baptist Church