Day 108 - The End has come!

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I don't know about the end of the world, as God will take care of that in His timing, but I do know that my extreme faith workout in James has concluded. Working out and writing 6 days a week has now concluded with my 108th entry. Even if no one else has done the workout with me, it has been very valuable for me, in many ways:

• Continuing the discipline of prayer and Bible study each day
• Applying what I am preaching
• Growing in my faith

This has been a great experience for me and I believe God has used it to test, challenge and grow my faith. Thanks, God, for this opportunity.

Day 107 - James 3-5 and 5:19,20

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James 5:19,20

3:2,3 - the rescuer, if he can control his tongue, will be more effective in his rescue
3:8 - it is likely that the wanderer was struggling with his tongue
3:13 - the rescuer will need this to love the wanderer
3:14 - many times this is what the wanderer is struggling with
3:18 - the rescuer is really a biblical peacemaker, trying to bring restoration in personal relationships and to God
4:2-4 - the wanderer is shown to be a friend of the world
4:6 - this is what is needed, humility - for both the wanderer and the rescuer
5:16 - the wanderer needs to confess his sins to the rescuer, who can pray for him and help bring him back

Day 106 - looking at the whole

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Read chapters 1,2 and see any connection with James 5:19,20:

• 1:1,2 - steadfastness in trials is a blessed characteristic. Those who are wandering from the truth are not being steadfast
• 1:5 - the need for wisdom is the same in rescuing someone from spiritual disaster as it is in enduring a trial
• 1:13 - the one wandering cannot blame God
• 1:14,15 - the reason the person has wandered has everything to do with
• 1:21,22 - this is the answer for what the wanderer needs to do
• 1:23,24 - this is an explanation for what the wanderer has done
• 1:27 - this is the challenge for the wanderer and for the rescuer
• 2:1 - for those who are going after the wanderer, we cannot show partiality
• 2:8 - this is an encouragement for the rescuer
• 2:12,13 - the one who rescues demonstrates the mercy of Christ
• 2:17 - the wanderer may have had the head knowledge but didn't follow it through with his life

Day 105 - applying James 5:19,20

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James 5:19,20 - NEXT STEPS

1. It is our responsibility to bring people back to God's truth
James encourages those who are willing to go after people who are sinning; and with the rest of Scripture we know the importance and responsibility of reaching out to our fallen brothers and sisters in Christ. This has been an area I have taken much more seriously in recent years, even though it is full of risks and consequences.

2. Evaluate your own heart, and then humbly attempt to rescue them from God's judgment.
This is crucial, to make sure that we have confessed our own sins, before we attempt to go after others and help them. But, once we have done, that, we must go after those struggling with sin, as thought their lives depended on it.

3. Be encouraged that you are doing the right thing.
This command is very tough, at times, so it is good to remember that God wants us to do it, He will bless it; and it is God's will.

Day 104 - ? about James 5:19,20

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James 5:19,20

• Who in the church or fellowship has the responsibility to do something if a brother is seen to be wandering from the truth (5:19,20)? The brother or sister in Christ who recognizes it is happening.
• Only God can bring a sinner back and save him (John 6:44; Ephesians 1:7). So what does James mean by saying that one of us should bring the wanderer back and turn him from the error of his way? It is our responsibility to be God's instrument, messenger, to tell them how they are walking away from truth; and to help them come back to it. But still, without the Holy Spirit doing the work on their heart, it will not happen. That is God's job; and we just need to do ours.
• Explain in your own words the results of bringing back a wanderer (5:20), as you interpret them: It keeps them from going down the path of discipline that they were on, which could have led to physical death; or if they were a pretending believer, but really a non-believer, it delivers them from spiritual, eternal separation kind of death. It also keeps them from the many other consequences they would have experienced in their sin.
• What are some practical steps a person can take when he sees a brother wandering from the truth? 1) pray for him; 2) make sure your own heart is right before God; 3) pray for the right timing and then contact him; 4) lovingly explain your concern for them and specifically how you believe they have walked away from the truth. 5) Be there for them, all the way through the restoration process.

Day 103 - James 5:19,20

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The context:
James 5:13-18 covers a variety of topics, but the main constant theme is prayer. So, coming into verses 19,20, dealing with a someone who has strayed from the truth, prayer should be the context in which they are pursued.

James 5:19,20 (my paraphrase)
Followers of Christ, if someone who has worshipped with you starts sinning, going away from God's truth; be encouraged to know that any of you who go after him and bring him back to the truth will deliver him from the consequence of death and many other sins that he would have committed.

Day 102 - listening to a message on James 5:13-18

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3 things I am taking to heart from my message last Sunday:
1. Prayer is to be a constant thing, regardless of the circumstances. And although I have improved in this area, I want to keep making prayer something that is going on in my heart and mind all day long.

2. When people are weak, they desire pastoral care; and I want to continue to be sensitive to that and be there for them; even sensing it, if they do not request it.

3. I want the faith like Elijah had, even though he was also weak. I want to be right with God and see Him do amazing things; even in the context of my prayers.