https://www.bible.com/events/49564669
Church of the Nazarene – East Rockingham Campus
Relationships Righted Part 3
Thewanderer…
We are continuing our teaching series called Relationships Righted. Over the next fewweekswe willseekto apply biblical relationship building skills to a variety of our everyday relationships.
In the Gospel of Matthew, a religious expert approached Jesus and wanted to know what the most important commandment was,what’sthe number one thing we should do.
Jesus Answers in Matthew 22:37 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Jesus answers with two relationships
Love God with yourall, andlove your neighbor. The most important things according to Jesus, are found in relationship.
Today we are going to talk about our relationship with the wanderer in our lives.
James 5:19-20
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
The word “wander” in the original language carries the idea of being led astray. Of drifting away fromtruth. It speaks of any movement away from righteousness. Andit’snot entirely innocent.
James is writing to an early group of Christians and speaking to them directly, says that “if one of you should wander.”
That helps us to understand the context of awonderer is someonewho is, or atleast was, a part of the church at one time.
Brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth…
A wandereris someone who ispulling away or moving away from the truth.
Jesus said of himself “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but by me” so at thevery basiclevel, a wanderer is someone who whether by belief or by action is moving away from the person of Jesus.
We should see truth here in twodifferent ways:
First, the truth of what we believe about what the bible says, who it says God is, and how it calls us to live.
Secondly, we need to understand that a wonderer might move away from truth by their actions.
James 5:19-20
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
According to James, why being a wonderer issuch a big dealis that wandering can lead to death.
It’snot a matter of preference or opinion. Convenience or comfort-it’sa matter of life and death.
That’swhy our relationship with wanderers is so critical- We are called to go after them!
Inrelationshipwith a wanderer, remember to PRAY.
P-Pray for them.
R- Relationship first
A-Action
Y- Yield the outcome
Lord,Youare gracious and Your lovingkindness leads to repentance. As I pray for the wanderer, I pray that youwouldmake my heart match yours. I am available toyouLord. Let my mouth speak truth inloveand my hands be put to care, so they would know that mercy awaits them in the embrace of their heavenly Father. In Jesus Name.