By Mike Chaffin
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20
In the movie City Slickers, Curly tells Mitch, “The secret of life boils down to down to one thing, just one thing.” Well James last words let’s us in on that secret; there is no other way to heaven except through Christ. The last words in James remind us of what the most important thing is; to tell others about the love of Christ, and His sacrifice on the cross for their sins. The Bible is clear that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of the Lord.
We are all sinners. We can’t live up to God’s standard of holiness by our own efforts. We will never be good enough to get to heaven on our own merits and work. We are all in need of a Savior. God loved us enough to send us a Savior. His son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
When we accept Christ as our Savior, and make Him Lord of our life, we receive the Holy Spirit which leads and guides us into all righteousness. The righteousness of Christ that is counted as our own. It covers our multitude of sins, as James puts it here.
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of your life now is the time. Don’t wait until it is too late, and you no longer are able to pray. Jesus told us he knocks at the heart’s door of anyone who openly accepts Him.
When we see a confessing Christian sinning, we are instructed here to let them know, and help them move away from their sin. Peter told us to do it with gentleness. Jesus instructed us to go alone at first and talk to them. Not to openly rebuke them initially. If they listen, you have won a brother or sister back. If they won’t listen to you then Jesus says to take someone they might listen to. Jesus gives second chances, because he doesn’t delight in the death of anyone, even a sinner.
As the last words state, this is a life and death matter. Which do you want? Which do you want others to have? Jesus is the one thing.
Prayer: Lord thank you for these words of encouragement to us to be a light to a lost world. Help me have the courage and strength to call out sin, with meekness and gentleness and not in a judgmental way. Help me to not be overbearing as I tell others that you bore the cross for them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
