James 5:19-20
Dear brothers, if anyone has slipped
away from God and no longer trusts the Lord and someone helps him
understand the Truth again, that person who brings him back to God will
have saved a wandering soul from death, bringing about the forgiveness
of his many sins.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine shared a
blog post today from Jamie Jones*, a Christian speaker who is heartsick
over world events. The title of her post was “The Reason I Don’t Pray
for the Genocide in Iraq...” Jones acknowledged that events around the
world have made her “numb”...and she doesn’t even know how to pray about
them. But she points out in her post that in Romans 8:26, the
scripture says that the Holy Spirit “prays for us with groanings” when
we have no words to express our thoughts and feelings. In 2 Corinthians
4:7, Paul describes us as “fragile clay jars” containing the treasure
of God’s power. In other words...we don’t have to have all of the
answers - we just have to trust God for them.
Here’s how this
applies to the scripture passage in James 5...God doesn’t call on us to
specifically do or say any particular thing to someone else about
salvation, our faith, or sin – theirs or ours. He calls on us to be the
“fragile clay jars”...then He supplies the power to evoke change. We
are to operate in love, grace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness...all
of the blessings and gifts that Jesus bestows to us through His Holy
Spirit...then give Him room to work.
So when your friend tells
you over and again that he/she is an atheist, keep on loving and
operating in kindness. Instead of hounding others to come to church
with you, cook a meal for them – or invite them to dine with you. Be a
friend in whatever way the other person needs – lend a listening ear,
help with an errand, babysit, offer an occasional ride to work or
school, pitch in to help with housekeeping or yard work, or do whatever
you determine could make a difference for this person at the moment. Be
available in ways great and small – and make sure the other person sees
your willingness to love them and help however - and whenever - you
can. Smile! Speak positively, and operate with a spirit of confidence,
hopefulness and faith. Nobody sees the love and mercy of Jesus in
someone who is always negative and critical.
I don’t want to cite
specific examples, but trust me when I say that I have known more than a
couple of people in my life who claimed there was no God...or renounced
Him in some manner. Instead of chastising them, “preaching” to them,
or even talking much about God in their presence, I have chosen to love
them...to pray for them. I have not backed away from opportunities to
share the GOOD NEWS with them...to include a scripture reference in a
personal note or to mention how God blessed me or saw me through a
specific situation. But I have tried very hard to be the “fragile clay
jar” – and to allow God to handle the rest in his infinite wisdom and
omnipotent power.
Here’s the thing...more than one of the people
that I’ve referenced has started to come around. Some have made huge
transformations and are now boldly declaring their devotion to Jesus.
Others are starting to show chinks in the armor...their hardline
attitudes have softened...talk of a “Higher Power” or “Christian love”
finds its way into their conversations. And so I persevere...I offer
myself as a disciple of Christ...His servant and “fragile clay jar” to
be used to reach others.
Before you add stars to my crown, know
that I don’t always get this right. None of us do! And the state of
world affairs on any given day is enough to make any of us throw up our
hands and say, “I simply don’t know what to do with this...or how to
even pray about it!” The GOOD NEWS is that we don’t have to...we know a
Potter who can work miracles with sinful lumps of clay! He can turn us
in to “fragile jars” and fill us with His Holy Spirit, which has power
that we cannot begin to comprehend. If we will remain steady and
persistent...committed and willing love others with grace and mercy, He
will handle the rest.
We have one job...to continually love
others in Jesus name and to give Him a vessel from which to work. My
question to you today is, “How are you using your jar?”
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://jamiejones.org/the-reason-i-dont-pray-for-the-genocide-in-iraq/
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