REPENTANCE

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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In our journey of faith with Jesus Christ, failure should not be our goal, nor should we wink at our areas of sin that Jesus Christ died to absolve on the cross. But make no mistake, everyone fails. We all face times of selfishness, immoral desire, and immaturity on every level. Like I said, failure happens. 

In this next collection of devotionals, we will be looking at how the Lord helps us in our times of failure and struggle. In this study, we are going to focus on how we are called to allow the Lord to do more than simply lift us up out of our mess, but we are going to see that the Lord wants us to be busy about his work, even in these times of failure. 

We will look at three big ideas, each captured by one of the following three words, “repent, restore, redeem.” Today we are going to look at the way that the Lord calls us to not only repent of our own sin, but to help others in their times of struggle and need. 

Let’s listen to the last section of the book of James:

19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

(James 5:19-20 NIV11)

Unpack

I love the way that the idea of repentance is described in this passage. James uses plain language that anyone can understand to describe some pretty important theological concepts. Let’s unpack what this passage has to say about our own repentance before the Lord and our involvement in the struggles of others. 

Wander

Like the parable of Luke 15:3-7 (read this devotional here), this teaching describes the act of following our selfish desires into a place of sin using the action of wandering. Like the one out of ninety-nine sheep that wanders away in Jesus’ parable, here we see that one who is a part of the flock, a part of the church, follows their desires and interests into a place of sin and failure. 

In this teaching, the people of the church are called to be on the lookout for those who are going astray, wandering from the established truth of God’s word. If we see one of our own heading in the wrong direction, we are to step into this situation and lovingly bring correction and help.  

One of You

Who should be the one to speak to those from among your small group, Bible study, fellowship, friend group, or family who might be heading the wrong way? 

Is this the purview of the pastors, preachers, and paid religious leaders of the church or is this a calling being given to the whole Body of Christ?

It would appear that the point being made here is to be applied to any and every one within the Body of Christ. If we witness one of our people stepping outside of God’s truth, the merciful, Christ-like thing to do is to step into this area of struggle and seek to lovingly help your friend. 

Turns

If you witnessed someone that you loved running full speed toward a steep cliff, would the loving thing be to respect their wishes and choices and say nothing or would it be to step into their path and embrace them, helping them to see that they are heading for destruction?

This calling is not one of harshness or victory. This is not a call to win battles. This is a call to care so much about another person that you cannot and will not stand by and watch them wander from their faith and from the will of God. 

Save

When we allow the Lord to use us to help a loved one or friend to see the error of their ways and to seek the Lord’s help in making a change, in those moments, we are being used by God to save those people from a mountain of pain. 

Many of us do not like the idea of confronting other people, even if it for their good. But what we are being asked to do in this teaching is to help those we love turn away from pain and suffering as they see the sin that they have embraced and submit that area of rebellion under the Lord’s authority. 

If we love those we see running toward the cliff, we will do all we can to show them the truth of their situation as we embrace them and help them in their time of need. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Senior Pastor at PARK HILL BAPTIST CHURCH

Worked at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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