December 14th, 20

Wanderers, Back from Wandering.

Below is the prepared devotional for the day, my remarks took a different turn, and don't encompass the main point offered here.  

James 1 - 5

James 5:19 - 20 says 

My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

Back f have experienced his grace.  Isaiah 53:6 (NET Bible) says,

All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path, but the LORD caused the sin of all of us to attack him. (Isa 53:6)

God uses his Word and he uses brothers and sisters in Christ, to bring back the wanderer.   James is talking about repeat wanderers, and I count myself as one of them. That’s been my story. The Great Shepherd found me but I have been found again - not saved again.  That happened once for all time.  But I have been found again. And it was God’s people with the message of Life, that found me.  And that’s the story of so many of us.  In fact, the once-found, in my experience, are really the exception. I know that there are those out there like that, but for the majority of us sheep, we are repeat wanderers.  Our hearts are prone to wander, as the old hymn says.  But our hearts can be trained and discipled.  And God is gracious and patient with us in that journey.  And he has called us to have a loving and wise eye out for our brothers and sisters. He calls us to be ready to do what Jesus has done for us - go and find them and bring them home, reminding them of God’s love.

Be reminded today that, though you may be a repeat wanderer, God is good and strong and faithful.  He will use his people to bring back people like you and me and those who might come to mind as you read this.  He can bring them and us back home. He might be asking you to go with Him, to bring someone back home. Respond.  Train your heart to follow God wherever he leads.

You are loved!