Dear Faith Family,
"...let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins."
(James 5:20)
Those are the final words of James' letter. A letter written to help us both understand and participate with the faith at work within us. A faith activated in the troubles of daily living, and fought against by internal attitudes and unseen assailants. A faith which brings us to full maturity as individuals and brings our lives together in Christ toward our perfection, our telos, our purposed end.
Is it any wonder then that James concludes this epistle to his beloved faith family with the joyous exhortation to use our words to help others in the same way James' words have helped us?
James, with confident compassion, charges you and me to help those, like us, who at times lack the wisdom to see who we truly are and how that affects our living, and call us back to the true and the good. Enthusiastically imploring us, as we discussed Sunday, to anoint one another in the life of Christ, amid our weaknesses, so that what is compromised might be healed, and what is lost and wandering might be found and restored.
That is the charge that James leaves his faith family and ours. So, how will we respond? Will we indeed participate with the faith at work within us, experiencing the joy of a life complete, lacking nothing, together? Or, will we hear the words but not heed them?
My prayer for you, and for myself, is that we would not be mere "hearers of the word and not doers" (1:23), but rather, ones who "show [our faith] by [our] works" (2:18). To help us to this end, one final time, I invite you to join me in considering and responding to the Word through James' letter.
Here is how.
Read James 5:13-20
(Re)Listen or Watch(!) the Sermon
Reflect & Share
First with the Lord and then with your GC or a faith-filled friend.
Process any emotions, thoughts, doubts, or affirmations that arise
as you reflect on the following:James contends that life's disturbances help ensure our maturation and completion. Indeed, God-orchestrated exposure to the trials of making life, good, activates and purifies our faith, ensuring we reach the end of our potential: the work of God being complete in history through our maturation.
What would be different tomorrow if I responded joyously to faith at work within me?
May we be "perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (1:4) by the persevering grace of faith at work.
Love you, faith family. God bless.