RESTORING THE WANDERING

JAMES 5:19–20

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins

(James 5:19–20).

As we bring this year to an end, let us consider the last two verses in James’s epistle. He speaks of those who wander from the truth. The Law given at Sinai distinguishes two kinds of sins: sins committed self-consciously “with a high hand,” and sins committed “inadvertently,” or in “ignorance.” Literally, this second kind of sin is a sin of “wandering astray.” It refers to the kinds of sins we commit when we forget something important or when we are under extreme pressure or when someone in authority (such as a parent) confuses us and leads us astray.

James seems to refer to this concept here in verse 19. His whole epistle has been written to try and keep people from wandering astray and to call those who might be wandering to come back. His audience has been facing persecution from rich Jews. He tells them not to wander into the sin of flattering the wicked rich nor into the sin of grumbling against God and one another. He warns them not to stray from the church but to submit to God and be patient until the Lord returns.

He warns them that professed faith without good works—works of charity—is no faith at all. He warns them not to ignore the poor or in any way to despise them. He tells them that the abusive use of the tongue is a sign of false faith. He tells them to be quick to listen and slow to speak. He tells them to be submissive to God and to one another and not to be arrogant and full of words. All these sins start as small, seemingly insignificant wanderings. But if unchecked they can cause us to wander out of the kingdom altogether.

Such wandering leads to death if we do not come back. The person who committed a wandering sin under the Law was excluded from God’s presence until he brought a sin offering to cover for his sin (Leviticus 4–5). Only through the blood of the sacrifice was he readmitted to the fold. James encourages us to watch for wandering sheep and to “turn them from error” back to the Lord. When we repent and return to the Lord, our sins are forgiven, and those who have helped us repent and return have the privilege of helping get our sins forgiven.

CORAM DEO

Revelation 20–22

WEEKEND

Genesis 1–5

Matthew 1–2

Have you wandered any this past year? Take stock this weekend and ask God to show you any areas where you may have done so. Then ask Him for the Spirit to help you in a “new year’s resolution” to come back in those areas. Ask Him to give you the privilege of helping other wandering sheep come back as well.

For further study: Matt. 18:15–20 • 1 John 5:13–21