Let It Be Me

Let It Be Me

I am preaching on James 5:19,20 this week.  “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins”.  We may complicate these verses but they are pretty self explanatory.  Paul speaks of believers having the ministry of reconciliation.  We should be taking the initiative in seeking those who are wandering and point them, lovingly, back to the Savior.
I have been meditating on that truth for a few days now.  Here is what keeps forcing it’s way to the front of my mind.  If someone I love is wandering from the truth I would sincerely pray and hope that where ever they are at, that a church body in their area would be faithfully obeying these verses.  That they would be led by the Spirit of God to cross paths with my loved one and that God would use them to steer those that I love back to the Savior.  The thought that keeps coming to my mind is this, “I wonder if someone is praying for their loved one that I will cross paths with today?”  Am I being faithful to the ministry that God has called me to?  Am I taking the initiative to hear the Spirit’s prompting to speak truth into other’s lives?  Am I so exuding the grace and mercy of Jesus that others are attracted to him?
The burden of wandering loved ones can be great.  Fervent prayers for them are daily.  Asking God to bring someone across their path to speak truth is a plea that comes from the depths of our hearts.  But, do I also have a burden for other people’s children who are wandering?  Am I as willing to be used by God as I want others to be willing?  Just a thought that keeps rattling around in my heart and head.