JAMES, I & II PETER

I'm in La Grande, OR this morning.  I went to Summerville, OR to a preacher's meeting and I will be there again this morning and drive home this afternoon.  It is four and a half hours away, but has been enjoyable.  Two good messages were preached last night, and I'm looking forward to hearing more this morning.  While reading this morning, here are a few items I thought of to share with you: 1) LORD OF SABAOTH- James 5:4 says:  "Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth:  and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth."  (I looked up this information about the Lord of sabaoth; Lord of Host) This is a crying sin, an iniquity that cries so as to reach the ears of God; and, in this case, God is to be considered as the Lord of sabaoth, or the Lord of hosts, Kuriou sabawy, a phrase often used in the Old-Testament, when the people of God were defenseless and wanted protection, and when their enemies were numerous and powerful. The Lord of hosts, who has all ranks of beings and creatures at his disposal, and who sets all in their several places, hears the oppressed when they cry by reason of the cruelty or injustice of the oppressor, and he will give orders to some of those hosts that are under him (angels, devils, storms, distempers, or the like) to avenge the wrongs done to those who are dealt with unrighteously and unmercifully. Take heed of this sin of defrauding and oppressing, and avoid the very appearances of it. *Sometimes I just like to look up a passage or phrase to know what it means.  2) THE JUDGE IS LISTENING- In James 5:9, it tells us not to grudge one another, because "behold, the judge standeth before the door."  I got to thinking about that.  What would we say about other people if we knew that Jesus was just outside the door ease-dropping on us?  Well, he is!  He is about to come back for all of us as believers and He is just outside of the door waiting for the Father to give the word.  Then there will be the judgment seat of Christ.  You will not be wanting to let Christ hear you speak evil of others and hold grudges!  Let us rid ourselves of any grudges and miss-givings we would have towards other people.  Behold, the Judge standeth before the door! 3) EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES-  This phrase is found in II Peter 1:4.  These are the promises that we have in Christ.  These promises are given to us and are exceeding great and precious!  Oh how we ought to revel in the promises of our Great God!  LORD, thank You for today.  I love You Lord, and want to exhibit that throughout the day.  Not so men will see I love You, but that You can see that my love for You is shown to others that You might be loved of them as well.  You are my God, and today, I listen to Your voice, Your direction, Your will is my utmost concern.  How can I yield myself better, how can I listen more closely, how can I love You deeper?... these are my concerns today.  I will love those you put in my path in Your stead, but not so people think I am loving.... but because I belong to You.  Thank you Jesus, for first loving me.  Amen! Have a blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler