James

This has been a packed 13 weeks. It was great to revisit the book of James. Last night was the last night of our discussions. James is a great thought provoking book. During these weeks a number of people told me how they received enlightenment from this study. James also challenged me during this study. The most recent was the last chapter of James and the last few verses cause me to think, what am I doing to seek and save the lost?

James 5:19 ¹⁹ My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins

• The one who wonders away – this may be a person who momentarily turns from God, or a person who thinks himself or herself to be a Christian but has dead faith and is not a Christian at all.
  
• The fate that waits them – for the person who has wondered away from God, the disconnection from God is a form of death; but for the nonbeliever, his or her eternal death is in view.
  
• The one who can help – each of us are instrumental in restoring or bringing the wanders to life with Christ. We play an integral role in the restoration process.
  
• The goal of salvation – for the rebellious Christians, their wayward spirits are reformed and they come back into the fellowship with God; for the fake Christians who professed faith but never had it, they will-for the first time-come into realization of God's presence and grace with the forgiveness of their sins.
  

I hope that we are always looking for those who stray from God that we don't through them out. We need to be praying for these people and be willing to help them to see what they are doing and bring them back to God.