United Church of God

Letter From Jim Tuck - August 11, 2018

Letter From Jim Tuck

August 11, 2018

Dear brethren,

What are you studying in your personal Bible study?  Each week we need to focus on some spiritual aspect of our calling to keep our minds riveted to the Kingdom.

This week the topic of drawing close to God has been on my mind.  What does it mean when we draw near to God, and how can we do it. In the epistle of James it records, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:7-8a)

All of us have had friends through the course of our lives from childhood to now.  We may have had some friends when we were younger we thought would always be our friend, but in the course of time due to various circumstances we drifted apart.  Sometimes we might have to strain our brain to remember the name of our one-time close friend.

There are some friendships we can have for decades.  However, for this to happen it is necessary to maintain the close friendship otherwise we drift apart.

Abraham was considered to be a close friend of God.  James 2:23 records, "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.

How do we become friends with someone?  Perhaps it sounds simplistic, but we must share similar interests and values.  Abraham sought to think the way God thought, and he patterned his life after the ways of God.  He shared God's interests by being faithful to LISTEN TO GOD, and to observe God's laws, commandments, and statutes.  (Gen 26:5)   

To develop a close relationship with God means we must humbly repent of our sins and get on God's track and listen to Him through His word. 

The last part of James 4:8b-10 says, "Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

We need to humble ourselves and change when we see what God's word leads us to do.  A good friend deals humbly with another and vice versa.

The apostle John was a close friend of Jesus, and it is apt that he records in I John 1:3-4, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Jesus Christ walks in our midst when we gather on the Sabbath and Holy Days, and John says our fellowship is with the Father and Son.

In addition to listening to God and practicing the laws of God attendance at services and fellowship is a major way we draw close to God the Father and Jesus Christ. 

James reminded us to draw near to God, and He would draw near to us.  Let's be inspired to develop a closer relationship with God through fellowship with one another, for truly our fellowship is with the Father and His Son.

Please have a wonderful Sabbath!                     

Your servant and pastor,                                                                          

Jim Tuck