Monday, February 18, 2013

James 5:19,20


James 5:19,20

The Book of James ends with a final message.  A plea if you will.

If anyone you know messes up or starts to live life in such a way that you know is harmful to them or others, don't let them go.  Stick around and try to help them.

 It might be something as simple as driving a few miles over the speed limit or pirating movies from online.  I am guilty of those myself.  However they can lead to pushing the driving limits by 15 over the speed limit or stealing just some loose change from a friend.  Sounds a bit more serious doesn't it.  Eventually you could have someone accidently hitting someone else with their car and then fleeing the scene.  Or perhaps shoplifting.  You see where this is going?

The person who has the courage and compassion that it takes to help another to stop hurting themselves or others most likely will save a life.  Death is final and not letting a person get that far is a huge endeavor that is harder than you can know, but worth the victory at the end.  Think of all the things that a person who starts to live life purposefully the wrong way might end up doing.  If you can bring them back and away from that life, you are helping them to avoid sinning a lot more.  So you save them from both death and a "multitude of sins."

"Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins."

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