Tuesday Reading: James 5:19-20
Key Verse: James 5:20
20 know that he who turns back the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Devotion:
No matter how wise or holy we may think we are, it does not make us free from error. We can think about all the good things that we do, but there are still things that we do that we are not supposed to do. None of us are anywhere near perfect and we all need to make sure that we remember that! If we try to hide our errors, they will find us out. If we continue to allow bad things to happen in our lives we may well get used to them and begin to think they are not so bad, even good in the end... but that does not make them good.
When Christ told us to love our neighbours as ourselves, He wanted us to keep in mind these things too. If we are able to see the errors that we do through reading His Word, then we must surely show others that same word if they are doing what we did. We are not judging others but showing them God’s Word which in itself is able to make men see their faults. If we are able to allow others to turn from their own ways and turn back to God’s will, then we are beginning to walk in His will too. The only way that we are going to hide our sin is by giving it to Christ and turning our backs on it – this also means helping others to give theirs to Christ and turn their backs on it too.
What good is it to be able to save or take a life when it is not going to make a difference to that person’s eternal destiny? We need to move towards making sure that people know their destiny as dictated by their actions and their belief (or unbelief) and that is what God’s Word is for. God’s Word alone is what will allow us and our friends to see what we do wrong and to admit to those offences against God. Only then can we bring them to Him in humility and ask for the forgiveness that He has promised to give to us when we do. Only then in our new-found belief can we find eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Points to Ponder:
How else can you learn what you do wrong other than by someone telling you?
Do you read God’s Word to find out what you do wrong?
