Edification for the Mind & Spirit
3/29/12
Loving One Another…
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20
My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God. James 5:19-20
Loving one another sounds like it should be one of the simplest things to do, right? But we all know that this action is often times easier said than done. There are those people who seem downright unlovable. Unbearable to be around, talk to or deal with. They are far more than “iron sharpening the iron” and are more of a nuisance and sometimes simply painful to endure. They espouse things that seem so contrary to what you know to be right and true. And the easy thing to do is to simply walk away.
I have spent a great deal of time with someone, who for as long as I have known them, it has been their way to “offer” their “advice” to people and in situations in which they feel as though they have something to contribute. Many times, even when their “advice” has not been solicited. This person truly in their heart of hearts believe that what they have to offer is right and even more so GOD-inspired. They believe that they are offering their words out of love. But what often happens is the opposite of what I believe their intended purpose was…they isolate, turn-off and offend those who they are “helping” which in turn causes their words to fall on deaf ears. And even sometimes turning the one in need away from seeking any assistance from anyone of a faith perspective.
James 5:19-20 encourages us to not turn away from those who stray from the things of GOD. To truly “rescue them from destruction”…to get them back. But this can ONLY be done when done truly out of love for one another and in the RIGHT time. GOD equips us with the understanding of our own experiences in order to share our testimonies with one another offering a healing word of encouragement through our celebration of going through the trial and coming out whole and healed. HE does not give us wisdom for the sake of condemning, judging OR correcting, especially in a manner that lies on OUR belief of what is right or wrong / good or bad…feel me? When we love one another we should have a sense of everything about them…a sense of what is needed…a sense of the timing of providing what is needed.
I encourage you to LOVE one another therefore ensuring that you speak LIFE into one another. Guard what you say, how you say it and WHY you say something. Seek GOD in all that you do, think and say!
Stay Blessed, Stay Happy, Stay Wise, Stay Encouraged & Stay Edified People!
Pastor Joyce Roundtree
For more by Joyce Roundtree go to www.iamjoyceroundtree.com