Standing In The Mirror

Associate Pastor Ryan Crawford brought us our Sunday morning message: "Standing in the Mirror."

We stood with opening prayer and reading from James 1:18-27.

The theme of the book of James is about growing up in spiritual maturity and spiritual growth. James can be described as a person who does not have a problem telling it like it is. He laid down the law, and when he had something to say he wasted no time saying it. A mirror doesn't lie. It shows us the whole truth -- the good, the bad and the ugly.

We, as Christians, battle with our Bible. We struggle to read the Word of God. The Bible is the only book where the reader is in love with the author.

Christians' battles with their Bible determines (a radical word), demonstrates a restrained way and demands wickedness removal.

The Bible is what got us into this family. "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures." James 1:18. Statistics show that the Bible is used only 50 percent of the time in church. What percent is the Bible used in the home? With the first fruits as a priority, it gives us a spiritual belonging. The Bible tells us we belong to God.

He adopted us into his family, and the legal document that gave us the right of a natural born child in the family of God was not the Bill of Rights or any constitution or an outstanding or upstanding citizen. When the devil comes at you and says "You don't act saved" or "You don't look saved," Romans 10:13 reminds us "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." When a lost person comes to me, I do not blurt out my experiences or emotion or some song or tell him "the preacher said." I take him to the Bible, the government of God that legally states I am a child of God.

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:" James 1:19.

As a child, I was often reminded I have two ears and one mouth. For those who don't listen to God's Word, we understand they probably haven't been in front of the mirror this week. To which do you choose to listen: the Bible or man? Balaam had to learn to listen to a donkey. If we have reserved articulation, it keeps us quick and slow to speak.

How much would you talk today if the only thing you said lined up with the Bible? Some wouldn't talk for days!

When we are slow to wrath we learn to refrain from anger. One can temper his/her temper. Does your anger cause others not to see God? Have you ever been mad just to be mad?

"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save you souls." James 1:21.

As we attempt to be more like Christ and not carnal minded, we can strive to have meekness, tenderness, and loving kindness. Removing wickedness gives us a better understanding of what to watch, where to go, what we are and what to say. Each day we should try to be more like Christ and in Heaven we will be.

What will help you change? As we look in the mirror, God gives us hope. He is our grace and, remember, He loves us.

Have you read your Bible today? If not, read 2 Timothy.

If you could say just one last thing to someone today what would it be?

Please come join us at First Baptist Church in Pineville Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for Sunday School, immediately followed by morning worship at 10 a.m. Our Wednesday Night AWANA meets every week starting with dinner at 6 p.m. We have Wednesday night Bible Study at 7 p.m. Every other Saturday at 2:30 p.m. our church has Nursing Home Ministry at the McDonald County Living Center in Anderson, Mo. The next gathering is March 25.

Wednesday evening Bible study begins at 7 p.m.

March 19 is Staple Sunday. All donations are appreciated.

If you have no home church of your own, we would love for you to join us at First Baptist Church off the Northeast Square in Pineville. Just behind the U.S. Bank.

All Bible verses are from the KJV, The King James Version of the Holy Bible.