Lifeline

Lifeline Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Glass March 08, 2012

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. James 5:19-20 (NIV) My puppy loves to go on walks whether it is our neighborhood, the park or the marina. But he must always be on a leash. I call it his “lifeline”. Without the leash, his explorations and wandering curiosity would surely put him in harms way like chasing squirrels into traffic or losing his way and not being able to find his way back home. Or worse yet, falling in the water. While he seems quiet and restful lying at the foot of a park bench, it would only take a second for him to wander off and we couldn’t risk losing him. When my dog and I go to the marina for walks, we notice all the boats are tied up with lines and the boats have life jackets on board. Anchors are used to keep from drifting when out on the open water and some of the larger boats even have life rafts. Lifelines are essential. I just finished a wonderful Bible study on the book of James. There are so many nuggets of wisdom in that book. Too many to mention actually but worth the time to delve into it. Today’s’ verse is the one that really spoke to me and it is a “call to action”. Many of us, me included, will sometimes shy away from speaking to a loved one or a good friend when we see them taking the wrong road. We rationalize that they are old enough to know what they are doing and we look the other way and hope for the best. That is not what we are being called to do. If after praying for wisdom, seeking God’s Will and we show ourselves willing to help, God may equip us with the courage and strength to bring a person back from sin. We have to be careful here because we can become righteous for the wrong reasons, but when God asks us to help to offer a lifeline to one of His people, we should step up. What comes to mind are teenagers that are overwhelmed with choices and temptations and often times succumb to the wrong influences in their life…and there is no one to notice or say anything. That is just one example. Good people that get out of balance with too much of a bad thing needs a loving friend to tap them on the shoulder and pull them back. We can love someone back in a loving way with dignity rather than preaching, taking a superior tone or threats. We can be the lifeline that brings someone back to God which saves them and their soul. Biblically, we are responsible to help if we can.