911! I'VE FALLEN AND I CAN'T GET UP!

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins (James 5:19–20, ESV).

Scenario A: You are a wanderer. 

Solution: Come home!

Scenario B: You know and love someone who is wandering. 

Solution: Go get the wanderer!

People everywhere have a tendency to wander— in the church. Sheep wander even in the flock of the Good Shepherd. That’s why James addresses this problem in his practical letter to believers. 

The whole book of James is about maturity and "robust" discipleship. The brand of discipleship James promotes is never solitary—it’s always life in context with other believers. His tone is emphatic, as if he’s shouting, “My brothers and sisters, family of God! 

Go get the wanderer!” 

If we’re really brothers and sisters, if you are an authentic member in the family of God, then we bear responsibility for our wandering siblings. 

Leave the 99!! 

The portrait of a wanderer is painted with rebellion and danger. He roams around and never settles down. His relationships are all momentary. He is lost, vaguely wondering if there’s something better, but caught in the not-so-merry-go-round of wandering.

Despite this bleak portrait, there’s still hope for the wanderer. No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. When James writes, “if anyone among you wanders,” that “anyone” has no disclaimers. 

Our excuses fall flat:

         “She’s too far gone.” 

Wrong—anyone.

         “His life is too complicated.” 

Wrong—anyone.

         “It’s too messy; I can’t get into that mix.” 

Wrong—anyone.

Begin to picture the prodigal, the pleasure-seeker, the wounded, ashamed, distracted wanderer. 

Does God’s Spirit bring a specific person to mind whom He wants you to approach and attempt to bring back? Perhaps it’s an obvious person—a child, a sibling, a close friend—to whom your heart immediately turns.

Go bring that person back.

God’s Word specifies, “someone brings him back.”  Someone.  It’s a person. 

Most authentic life change happens face-to-face and life-on-life. 

•Don’t leave a note in his e-mailbox. 

•Don’t hope she drives by a billboard. 

•Don’t sail a gospel blimp over his neighborhood. 

Rescue requires direct contact and a personal touch. Go get the wanderer!

The stakes couldn’t be higher. “Whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” James is not referring to physical death here but to the second death, an eternity separate from God in hell (see Revelation 20:14–15). Although God may allow His children to wander, He NEVER gives up on any of them. Neither will I. 

Neither should we.

Going and finding a wanderer is messy business. Your heart will be heavy, your feelings may be hurt, and your toes could get stomped on. You may be called arrogant: “Who do you think you are to tell me how to live my life?”  But are we selfless enough to risk our own comfort and reputation to rescue a wandering soul? 

God forgive us when we huddle in our holy enclave and don’t allow our hearts to be moved for people at risk. Get the salt out of the salt shaker so it can "do some good." 

If you were once a wanderer and have come home, someone, in some way, was used by God to bring you back. It’s time to reciprocate that priceless gift. Ask God, “Show me whom I can invite to come home as someone extended the invitation to me.”

It’s time—go get the wanderer.

Pray with me: 

Lord, forgive me for my selfish thinking, for focusing on myself. Fill my heart with compassion for the wanderer. Bring to mind the person You would have me go get. Help me proclaim the good news boldly and without apology—that You love those who wander and already paid the price in full for them to come home. Remind me that the result is not my responsibility. I am merely the messenger. I want all I do to be for Your glory—Yours alone. In the name of Jesus, who executed the greatest rescue mission this world has ever known, amen.

You can stop here! Though I wanted to keep praying, so here it goes...

Lord, allow me to grow with a growth that is from God; Colossians 2:19(ESV) to grow in the grace and knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; 2 Peter 3:18(ESV) to hold to my way; and, having clean hands, to grow stronger and stronger. Job 17:9(ESV)

Let my path be as the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. Proverbs 4:18(ESV)

I have not yet obtained, nor am I already perfect; Lord, grant that therefore, forgetting what lies behind, I may strain forward to what lies ahead, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14(ESV)

Be like the dew to me, that I may blossom like the lily and take root like the trees of Lebanon; that my shoots may spread out and my beauty may be like the olive. And let the sun of righteousness rise upon me with healing in its wings, that I may go out leaping like a calf from the stall. Malachi 4:2(ESV)

This is a 7 shot Americana no water! Bold flavor. 

Robbs 

HOW YOU SHOULD BE LIKE A CHILD

The tenderness of the heart of a true Christian, is elegantly signified by our Savior, in his comparing such a one to a little child. . . .

A little child has his heart easily moved, wrought upon and bowed: so is a Christian in spiritual things.

A little child is apt to be affected with sympathy, to weep with them that weep, and can’t well bear to see others in distress: so it is with a Christian (John11:35, Romans 12:15, I Corinthians12:26).

A little child is easily won by kindness: so is a Christian.

A little child is easily affected with grief at temporal evils, and has his heart melted, and falls a weeping: thus tender is the heart of a Christian, with regard to the evil of sin.

A little child is easily affrighted at the appearance of outward evils, or anything that threatens its hurt: so is a Christian apt to be alarmed at the appearance of moral evil, and anything that threatens the hurt of the soul.

A little child, when it meets enemies, or fierce beasts, is not apt to trust its own strength, but flies to its parents for refuge: so a saint is not self-confident in engaging spiritual enemies, but flies to Christ.

A little child is apt to be suspicious of evil in places of danger, afraid in the dark, afraid when left alone, or far from home: so is a saint apt to be sensible of his spiritual dangers, jealous of himself, full of fear when he can’t see his way plain before him, afraid to be left alone, and to be at a distance from God; Proverbs 28:14, “Happy is the man that feareth alway; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”

A little child is apt to be afraid of superiors, and to dread their anger, and tremble at their frowns and threatenings: so is a true saint with respect to God; Psalms 119:120, “My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments.” Isaiah 66:2, “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and trembleth at my word.” V. 5, “Hear ye the Word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word.” Ezra 9:4, “Then were assembled unto me, everyone that trembled at the works of the God of Israel.” Ch. 10:3, “According to the counsel of my Lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God.” A little child approaches superiors with awe: so do the saints approach God with holy awe and reverence. Job 13:11, “Shall not his excellency make you afraid, and his dread fall upon you.” Holy fear is so much the nature of true godliness, that it is called in Scripture by no other name more frequently, than the fear of God.

-Jonathan Edwards

OPERATION BACK TO SCHOOL: BASICS (5)

The beginning of August signals the beginning of back-to-school shopping, or at least back-to-school-shopping commercials. You may not know it, but whether you’re a freshman or senior, you’re going to need more than notebooks, pencils, and a strong book bag.

You need truth. 

Sure, you’re going to school, willingly or unwillingly, to learn, but there are truths you need before the algebra, literature, and biology. While you should develop good study habits for the new semester, here are some real keys to the classroom you probably won’t find in your syllabus.

1. Thinking may be the most critical thing you ever do.

You’re going to school to learn how to think, not to pass tests. Whatever Christians do with their lives, whether we eat or drink or run a company or teach second grade or develop software or change diapers, we aim to do it to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). If you’ve tried it, you know it’s rarely simple or obvious how that happens. It requires careful thought and discernment.

John Piper (my mentor) writes, “The well-educated person is the person who has the habits of mind and heart to go on learning what he needs to learn to live in a Christ-exalting way for the rest of his life — and that would apply to whatever sphere of life he pursues” (Think, 191–192).

If we’re going to apply God’s word to the world, we need to know our world. Every chapter in a history book, every science experiment in the lab, every interaction between classmates is an opportunity to learn about the world God created — the place he especially put us to see him, enjoy him, and help others do the same.

2. The most important book you’ll read this fall is your Bible.

Because of all the assigned pages, you’ll be tempted to sideline your Bible reading until the next test has passed, the next paper is done, or the next break is here. Instead, treat your time in the Bible like you treat your meal plan. (If this isn't clear to you try fasting for 3 days to grasp how important a meal is!) 

Your time soaking in Scripture will be the most fruitful and shaping time of your education. Nothing can replace the wealth you will find there, and nothing will prepare you better for life, family, vocation, basketball games or even your next class.

Again, Piper pleads, “Let us labor to memorize the Word of God — for worship and for warfare. If we don’t wear it, we can’t wield it. If we do not carry it in our heads, we cannot savor it in our hearts or wield it in the Spirit” (Desiring God, 154-1 of my favorite books).

3. Someone younger than you needs you.

As a teenager, it took me several years to appreciate the influence I had over those younger than me. Sixth-graders can’t wait to be eighth-graders, who can’t wait to be freshmen, who can’t wait to be juniors, who can’t wait to be in college.

So someone younger than you is watching you, and probably wants to be like you. Whether you choose to be or not, you will be a role model. Why not model Christ-like faith, joy, generosity, discipline and service?

If you were under the impression 2 Timothy 2:2 stops with elder-types in the church, remember that Jesus calls all his disciples, without distinction, to be making more disciples (Matthew 28:19).

Keep your eyes open for the guy (if you’re a guy) or girl (if you’re a girl) trying to find someone to look up to, and spend some time and energy to consistently point them even further up to Christ. Think creatively about ways you could invest the gospel and your life into them, and eventually show them how they can do the same for others.

4. Comparison in the classroom can be the birthplace of pride.

God opposes the proud (James 4:6). That’s enough to know pride is dangerous, really dangerous. No one opposes God and survives, much less wins. Your pride will defile you (Matthew 7:20–23) and keep you out of the kingdom. Your humility, however, testifies to God’s forgiveness of your sin and his grace at work in you.

The classroom naturally nurtures a culture of comparison. Humble brags are in full bloom: "Arrghh, I'm so busy this week because I have AP Basketweaving, AP Chemistry and AP Algebra 2 of which I am the oooonly freshman in the class!" 

Pride can certainly begin before our education, but school’s grades, awards, and social dynamics seem to breed the wrong kind of competition — a self-seeking kind. And this pride clashes with our Savior’s sacrifice like your dad’s white socks and his favorite sandals.

Your younger years are fertile ground for big dreams. At our BE THE ONE TOUR we recently encouraged a group of young ambitious dreamers to distinguish between influence and fame.  It is a good and honorable thing to want to change the world, but it’s wicked to want to be known for it.

Let’s try and be quick to celebrate others (Romans 12:10), slow to speak, especially about our own successes, and slow to think more highly of ourselves than we ought (Romans 12:3). Remember you are a sinner bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19–20), and that in all your good papers, projects, and tests, it is God working through you for his glory (Philippians 2:13).

5. Only the gospel saves anyone, even A-students.

Whatever the grades may say, none of us really measures up — no, not one (Romans 3:11–12). Regardless of how hard you work this year, you will fail. You may fail to serve your teammates patiently or steward your time effectively or respect your parents humbly or do your schoolwork faithfully.

Fortunately, every student who trusts in Christ has an advocate before the one with infinitely more power and authority than any teacher, dean, principal, or president (1 John 2:1). God loves you and promises to be with you and help you because his Son died for you, not because of how well you do in school or how many friends you have or how happy your parents are with your performance.

You might have a new computer or a new study partner or an improved living situation or some new resolve to do better, but ultimately your only hope this fall or any fall is the gospel. And that is a really, really strong place to stand and study!!

So whether you’re going to walk, drive, or take the bus for the first day of classes, as you pack up, prepare your heart and mind for the work. By God’s merciful, student-loving grace, this year could be a breakthrough in your personal passion for him, your ministry to others on campus, and your readiness for a long life lived with and for Jesus.

You're NOT a student first....you're a Christian first...then a student.

Grace be with you--Robbs