James 5:19 – 20 “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
Galatians 6:1 – 2 “Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
In Cornwall, on the west coast of England, there are places where there are high cliffs hundreds of feet above the ocean. Call the man John. John was walking along one of the cliff paths with his dog when a dense fog suddenly moved in, blotting out the landscape. John was not worried because he had walked that path many times before; however, now his faithful dog began growling and snapping at him. Perplexed, John began to move forward again, and again the dog growled and snapped. Suddenly, the fog cleared for an instant. John was horrified to realize that rather than being on the path he thought he knew so well, he had veered and was now at the very brink of the cliff. One more step would have caused John to fall to his death. Only the quick actions of John’s dog barking warnings had saved John.
There are times when we might feel very much like that dog! We can see someone standing at a crossroads and taking a decision that might lead to disaster. What do we do? If we say anything, our friend might become offended and sever all ties with us. On the other hand, if we don’t say anything, our friend may follow a course that will lead to ruin.
Several years ago, riverboat gambling came into northwestern Illinois. One farm couple decided to visit “the boat” just to see what it was all about. What a tragic mistake! That night, that couple began gambling and before the night was over, they had lost their farm that had been in their family for generations. They had lost their entire livelihood, all because they chose to “just see what the gambling was all about.” If only someone had been able to advise them and stop them!
The question is this: how much do you really care about your friends? Do you actually love them, or are they merely convenient companions when you don’t want to be alone? Love is a verb; it is not just a noun. True love acts; it does not sit back while a loved one plunges into oblivion.
We have some friends who faced a horrible decision. One of their adopted sons had gotten messed up in drugs and was refusing to quit using drugs, even when he was living at their home. Finally, they were forced to demonstrate “tough love.” In the middle of a cold Illinois January, they had to order their son to leave their home. Their son lived in his car on the street for three weeks, but he finally realized that he could make better choices and became drug – free.
How is someone to be brought back? Galatians 6 advises us that we must restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness, realizing that we are just as vulnerable to temptation as our friend whom we are helping. But we must realize that our temptations might be different from those faced by our friends. While our friends might be struggling with addiction to gambling or on – line pronography, we might be addicted to gossip, to judging, to self – righteousness. Remember, God does not grade on a curve! All sins are abhorrent to a pure and holy God. If we are busy feeling that we are holier than the next person, we have already sinned. That is why we should be gentle in restoration, realizing that we might be the next ones in need of help. It has been rightly said that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. All of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
PRAYER: Father God, thank you that you are merciful and loving and gracious. If not for your mercy in sending Jesus to die for our sins, none of us would have any hope. Lord, help us to restore others gently and lovingly, realizing that we might be the next candidates for restoration. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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