April 30 Daily Devotional

Scripture for Day 120—James 5:20

²⁰ …know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Devotional:

As a final observation on James' teaching, take note of the verbs he uses here to describe what he calls us to do for each other as we pursue our responsibility of loving, mutual encouragement and care in the church. "Know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."

These verbs express various aspects of the work of salvation. They express things which only the living God—the Father, in Christ, by the Holy Spirit—can do. The living God alone can bring a sinner back, rescue him from eternal death, and blot out his sins.

How then does God expect us to do these things? The answer is that he doesn't expect us to do it; but he does expect us to offer ourselves as instruments for his doing so through us. God works through means. And one of his chief means is the loving fellowship of believers. These verbs express the earnestness and effort to which God calls in expressing our spiritual concern for one another. Though you cannot convert others, you must try to do so. Though you cannot rescue them from death, you must strive to do so as if their destiny rests with you. Though you cannot cover their sins, you must offer yourself as an instrument to the Son of God who can do so, and hold no sacrifice too great if only they are saved.

The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. He has sought and saved you. Now he calls you to reach out in love in order to encourage one another in the faith and to call sinners to salvation in Christ Jesus.

This final exhortation ties together the themes of the letter of James. To pursue each other in order to encourage one another in Christ is the proper response to trials. In so doing, you show care to the needy. You bridle your tongue to constructive rather than destructive ends. You forsake the world in humility and help others to do the same. This final exhortation summons you not only to hear the Word of God in faith, but also to do the Word in faith and thus reap the blessings of grace.

Click here for background on the author of Are You For Real?: Meditations in the Epistle of James for Secret or Family Worship.