Bringing Back

Bringing Back

James 5: ¹⁹ My friends, if any of you wander away from the truth and another one brings you back again, ²⁰ remember this: whoever turns a sinner back from the wrong way will save that sinner's soul from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

 

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Furious at hypocrite “Christians”, I decided to stop going to church. I went to parties and “enjoyed” my days as much as I could. A few people tried to reach me with the valuable words of JESUS, but I could not listen until things really started going wrong for me.

 

• I was hurt and angry.
• I was curious about what the world had to offer and found out it had nothing.
• I had no place to go so I turned back to GOD.

 

James provides some wise advice regarding those who try to walk away from GOD to fall into sin. He implies that everyone who sees a person walk away should keep trying to bring the person pack into the truth. He then explains the reward of forgiveness.

 

My Observations:

• GOD knows the trouble I can get into and is always willing to take me back
• GOD knows I may go through periods when I do not feel like following HIM, BUT HE is so loving that HE welcomes me back.
• GOD knows I may choose the wrong way BUT HE wants me to choose HIS way which is the only way to life.

 

Choosing a destructive path seems foolish yet alluring. I mean, there may be times when I think GOD’s ways are not as important as the ways of the world. But when I fall deeper into trouble, I have nowhere to turn. I find myself without GOD and without help from the world. BUT GOD is gracious.

 

HE send people to me and sends HIS love through many other people. HE blesses me with HIS grace and wipes away my tears, heals my pain and guides me to the right path. I am glad GOD welcomes me back when I wander from HIM.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer warn people about wandering?
• Have you ever gotten tired of hearing about GOD, or tired about someone else’s approach to GOD that you felt you should leave HIM and try some things that you know in your heart may be harmful?
• Will you allow GOD to speak to you through other people if you have turned away from GOD?
• Will you continue to pursue those who have walked away so he or she may turn back to GOD and be forgiven of many sins?

Useful Thinking

Useful Thinking

Philemon 1: ⁸ For this reason I could be bold enough, as your brother in Christ, to order you to do what should be done. ⁹ But because I love you, I make a request instead. I do this even though I am Paul, the ambassador of Christ Jesus, and at present also a prisoner for his sake. ¹⁰ So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual father. ¹¹ At one time he was of no use to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me.

 

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Listening to the suggestions from the crowd, I began thinking of ways to get out of class and work. I wanted to play cards and hang out I got nervous when I was almost fired, so I straightened up temporarily.

 

• I hated my job, even though it paid the bills.
• I was constantly looking for ways to goof off or leave.
• I never thought of ways to improve the situation or to add value.

 

Paul humbly makes a request of Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. He describes Onesimus as being useful, but acknowledges that at one point in time he was not useful. Something change with Onesimus and he began serving Paul, the prisoner.

 

My Observations

• There are times when I want to complain, but this is useless to serving.
• There are times when I want to serve myself, but this is useless to drawing other people to GOD.
• There are times when I think only of myself and this type of thinking is useless  to helping other people.

 

Selfishness is blinding. I mean, the more I think of myself, I make excuses for not serving other people. In fact, I may even blame him or her for not serving me in the way “I” think I ought to be served. This type of thinking is useless to bringing people to GOD. Fortunately HE is so, so, so forgiving.

 

HE shows me my selfishness and opens my eyes to a plentiful harvest that HE wants to draw back to HIMSELF. HE show me the hurt and the lost and wants me to seek them and bring them to HIM. There are plenty to bring to HIM, but my eyes have to be opened. I am glad GOD includes me in HIS plan and forgives me when I think only of myself.

 

Challenge

• What tone is the writer taking?
• Have you ever felt sorry for yourself and felt you deserved more?
• Will you change your mindset and ask GOD “What do YOU want me to do for YOUR kingdom today?”

Recruited

Recruited

Acts 26: ¹² “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³ About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

 

¹⁵ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

 

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶ ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. ¹⁷ I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸ to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

 

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“We heard about you” were the strange words from the person on the phone. “How would you like to work for another company?” I wasn’t looking for a job at the time, but the recruiter presented the opportunity so well that I had to investigate.

 

• There have been times when I have been recruited.
• There have been times when I have been sought after.
• There have been times when I was not looking for something, yet the something found me.

 

Paul continued explaining his background to King Agrippa. He mention how JESUS stopped him from going to Damascus to kill more people who truly followed GOD. JESUS told Paul that HE was “Appointing him as a servant.” JESUS sought after Paul.

 

• GOD wants me to be HIS servant.
• GOD pursued me when I was not looking for HIM.
• GOD opened my eyes and turned me from darkness to light.

 

Belief that I live in darkness is hard to do when there is artificial light. I mean, when things are semi-good, it is hard to see that I need help. BUT GOD sees something different. HE sees the total darkness the world is in.

 

GOD recruits people to see JESUS as the Savior of the world. HE opens their eyes to the false light Satan provides. GOD wants all to be saved, but knows some will choose not to believe in JESUS. I gladly accept GOD’s recruitment to tell people about eternal salvation through JESUS.

 

• Are you living so comfortably that you think you do not need JESUS?
• Do you believe in the world’s philosophies more than the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT?
• Will you allow GOD to recruit you into telling people about how JESUS died for your sins and is now alive, forgiving you for all eternity? 

Moment of Clarity

Moment of Clarity

Acts 11: ⁴ But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: ⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. ⁶ When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ⁷ And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ ⁹ But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’

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“You got it! Said the math teacher to me. I understood what was being said and I was able to explain it back to the teacher, clearly. I understood the principle and could apply the concept.

• There have been times when I understood something at a certain moment.
• There have been times when I got it after putting the pieces together.
• There have been times when I could point to the moment of clarity after wrestling with something.

Peter explains a very strange vision. For years he had been taught one way but was told to do something that seemed opposite. He was told to eat some very strange animals and insects which would make him ritually unclean. BUT GOD explained the concept of clean to him.

• GOD wants me to seek HIM so HE can provide clarity.
• GOD wants me to listen to HIM so HE can teach me.
• GOD wants me to study HIS ways so HE can correct my broken thinking about HIM.

All of heaven rejoices when one human has a moment of clarity regarding the belief in JESUS as the Savior. GOD loves when I look for HIM and find HIM sitting right next to me, never having left to go anywhere. This moment of clarity grows my faith in HIM and builds my trust. I am grateful GOD provides clarity in my purpose for HIM.

• Are you confused right now?
• Do you spend most of your time talking about someone else, never talking about your relationship with GOD?
• Will you ask GOD for a moment of clarity for your purpose?

Pondered Answers

Pondered Answers

Acts 10: ¹⁷ Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸ And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹ While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ²⁰ Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

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“LORD, am I serving YOU well?” were words I asked after a sermon. Months prior, a preacher had preached on serving GOD so HE can say “Well done MY good and faithful servant.” Not too long after my pondering, a preacher asked another question. “Will you come with me on a trip to a country in Africa to tell people about CHRIST?” “Hold on now, that answer came too quickly.”

• There have been times when I pondered what GOD wants from me and HE gave me an answer I was not ready for.
• There have been times when I asked GOD “What is the purpose?” but when HE shows me the purpose, I question if I am really hearing from HIM.
• There have been times when I wondered if GOD hears me but when HE asks me to do something out of the ordinary, I make excuses or doubt what HE said.

Peter pondered the vision GOD gave him. He could not grasp its meaning. Why would GOD make Peter go against the rules by making him eat unclean, common animals and bugs?

GOD answered Peter, “I made them clean and what I make clean, do not call common.” As Peter thought about the vision, people who he considered “unclean” asked for him. GOD said “Go with them and do not doubt.”

• GOD speaks to me daily.
• GOD wants me to speak about JESUS daily.
• GOD wants me to act on what HE tells me without doubting.

Getting back to the question posed to me about serving in a country in Africa. I nervously said “Okay, I’ll go.” I did not know what to expect. GOD blessed me with the opportunity to speak to many people about JESUS and they believed, even though I was not a preacher.

I simply told the people JESUS saved me. I no longer had to drink and chase sex and parties, leaving my life empty. They believed. This opened my eyes to GOD’s purpose. I am grateful GOD wants to use a sinner like me.

• Is GOD calling you to do something?
• Are you making excuses for what GOD is calling you to do, yet asking “What is GOD’s purpose for you?
• Will you accept GOD’s purpose and seek the lost HE sends you to today?

Ingenuity

Luke 5: ¹⁷ One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. ¹⁸ Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. ¹⁹ When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

²⁰ When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

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“We have a business problem” were the words posed to me that started my wheels turning. I loved solving business problems, the more complex the problem, the better. I pondered solutions for days, even weeks. Finally I came up with a solution and when I implemented it, I received awards and cash!

• There were times when I spent enormous amounts of time thinking of business solutions.
• There were times when I spent huge amounts of time trying to get the company ahead.
• There were times when I put forth large efforts developing complicated business solutions that made wealthy people wealthier.

The paralyzed man’s friends probably came up with a simple plan to go see JESUS who was healing people left and right but they ran into a problem. The crowd was too large. They had to think of something.

I could imagine the quick meeting as they discussed options. “Do you think the roof would support our weight?” “How will we get through the roof?” “Does anyone have any rope or should we use our clothes?” JESUS saw their faith as they implemented their solution.

• GOD wants me to think of ways to bring people to HIM.
• GOD wants me to spend time pondering solutions to bringing lost people back to HIM.
• GOD wants me to spend some time developing solutions to meet the needs of people who are seeking HIM.

“Your sins are forgiven” was the unexpected reward JESUS gave the paralyzed man. Who knows how he got paralyzed in the first place. Was he doing something that he wasn’t supposed to? The Bible does not say. JESUS forgave him and I believe his friends benefited as well. GOD sees any ingenuity I can give HIM.

• Do you have someone who is seeking GOD but they are facing barriers to accepting HIM?
• Do you know someone who is trying to run from GOD?
• Can you ask GOD for HIS ingenious plan to be brought to you so you can begin implementing it today?