JAMES & I PETER

Today is Thursday.  I had a great time last night at Church as I taught through the book of Revelation.  It was a joy and we had a good crowd for the Wednesday before Christmas.  I am in James and I Peter today and here are some thoughts:

1) NO CHANGE IN GOD- James 1:17  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."  In describing God as not changing in the least, it brings up the image of a sun dial.  We may not see the hour hand move on our watches, but we can see the second hand move.  With God, you could not see the second hand move, because he does not move.... I am the Lord thy God, I change not.   If you looked at a large sun dial, you would not see any shadow of movement as it describes God!  He is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow!  Praise the LORD!!

2) WRATH DOES NOT WORK RIGHTEOUSNESS- James 1:20 says:  "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."  In verse 26, it says:  "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."  Wrath and anger and malice are things God's Word tells us to "put away".  These are items the old man has in plenty, but we are to have in short supply as believers.  Let us not be angry Christians.  James says that our religion is vain (religion being that outward profession) if we don't stop speaking in anger. 
3) ROYAL LAW- James 2:8 says:  "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:"  This is also called the second commandment by Jesus, and now the royal law.  To love others is indeed the teaching of Jesus Christ to all who profess to know Him.  Let us keep the Royal Law in effect each day!

4) WHO ART THOU-  James 4:12 says: "Who art thou that judgest another?"  God is the judge, not us... we are to yield to Him and let Him do the judging among us.  We cannot do it ourselves.  Don't allow yourself the time to judge others.  Don't critique!  Don't criticize!  Don't second guess others.... just keep on serving God and realize it is not our task to judge.

5) DESIRE- In I Peter 2:2 it says that "as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."  It doesn't say we are new born babes, it says "as" newborn babes desire... so we too should desire the Word of God!  How about you?  Do you desire the Word of God?  Do you enjoy holding the Word of God and reading it, then meditating on the truths and wonder of the blessed Book that tells us about a loving Savior?  We should desire....God's Word!

6) FINALLY... - After teaching about wives and husbands and their responsibilities in I Peter 3:1-7, Peter now says in verses 8 and 9 to both:  "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing:  but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."  These are mutual obligations of the Husband and Wife.  We are to be compassionate one towards another.  We are not to respond to anger or evil in like fashion.  We are to act Christian towards each other!

I hope you have a wonderful and blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler