GET THEM BACK
21st Oct 2015
“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 in The Message
There is great sadness when we meet folk who have gone cold in their faith because they have been offended by other believers or church leaders. Others have had great hopes for their children who have abandoned their faith, or they have been living with a “prophetic word” that has not been fulfilled, and consequently are overwhelmed by a weight of disappointment and walked away from God.
The first key is to encourage those you are going after to forgive. Forgiveness is not an emotion, but a decision and a deliberate act of faith. Unforgiveness only damages the one who is unwilling to forgive. In Matthew 18:32-35, Jesus says that the one who will not forgive will be “in torment” until they are willing to “forgive from the heart.”
Secondly, whatever has happened to cause this situation “it is not God’s fault.” It is possible to lay the blame for broken dreams and crushing disappointments at the feet of God. God is not the author of evil nor does He make mistakes. Genesis 18:25 says, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Thirdly, we need to keep our faith behind our prayers. As the years roll by and we do not see any change in the ones we are praying for it is so easy to lose heart and feel that our prayers will never be answered. In Hebrews 6:12 it says, “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”
Never stop loving those who have drifted away, and here are some keys to “Get them back.”
Forgiveness, which may include forgiving ourselves for our mistakes.
Don’t blame God for the problem.
Keep your faith behind all the promises you have received.
by Charles Sibthorpe
