The Power of Encouragement

By John Gross, retired pastor of North Park Baptist Church, Houston, TX

Read James 5:16.

As we reach the final words of the book of James, let us take a moment to reflect on the encouragement that James offers to his fellow brethren. In these last two verses, James presents two important thoughts that we should hold close to our hearts.

Firstly, James reminds us that there may be times when fellow Christians wander or stray from the truth. We must take note of this, my friends. It is crucial for us to recognize that even those within our own Christian community may sometimes lose their way. We must always be on the lookout for those who may be struggling and extend our love and support to them.

Secondly, there has been some confusion surrounding verse 20. It reads, “…Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way, save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins…” Many have questioned whether this implies that if we stray from the truth, we lose our relationship with the Lord. While we may lose our fellowship with the Lord when we lose our way, our relationship with Him remains intact. Our faith in the Lord, our acceptance of Him as our Savior, cannot be undone. We have not saved others who have strayed but rather brought them back into fellowship with the Lord.

Allow me to share a powerful example of the impact we can have on someone’s life through a simple act of kindness. As I was walking down the aisle of North Park Baptist Church one Sunday morning, just before we were about to begin the service, I tapped Mike on the shoulder, greeted him with a smile, and told him, “I’m glad you are here today.” Little did I know that this small gesture would have a profound effect on his life. The following week, I received a card from Mike expressing his gratitude. He wrote that he had one dollar in his pocket, was planning to put that in the offering plate, and then go home to end his life. However, he stated that my tap on his shoulder and friendly smile gave him hope and saved him from his despair. His life was forever changed. This serves as a reminder of the immense impact we can have on others when we extend love and kindness in the name of our Lord.

Let us always remember that it is Jesus who ultimately saves and forgives our sins when we believe in His death, burial, and resurrection. He is the One true Savior. As Jesus Himself said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Our salvation comes solely from Jesus, and it is only through Him that we can be saved from our sins.

Do you know someone who has strayed and is in need of a gentle tap on their shoulder? Will you accept this challenge to take these three simple yet powerful actions to help guide them back to the Lord:

First, you can consistently pray for them. Second, you can live as godly examples before them. Finally, you can share a word of encouragement with them. 

Let’s be vigilant in our love and support for one another. Let us tap the shoulders of those who have strayed and walk alongside them, reminding them that they are not alone. Together, through our prayers, godly examples, and words of encouragement, we can help bring lost souls back into fellowship with our loving and forgiving Savior. 

Do you know someone who has strayed and is in need of a gentle tap on their shoulder?

Reflective Questions:

1. Have you ever witnessed a fellow Christian straying from the truth? How did you respond, and what impact did your actions have? How does the example of Mike’s experience highlight the influence of small acts of kindness in someone’s life? Can you think of a similar experience in your own life? 
2. In what ways can we consistently pray for someone who has strayed from the truth? How does prayer play a role in guiding them back to the Lord?
3. Why is it important to share words of encouragement with those who have strayed? How can our words of encouragement impact their journey back to the Lord?

Memory Verse:

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

Prayer: 

Dear God, help me to be aware of the people around me. Help me to be a good friend and an encouragement to them. Help me remember someone who used to be consistent in church but hasn’t been in a while so I can reach out to them. 

Related Scriptures:

Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15; Jude 1:22-23; Luke 22:32; I Peter 4:8; Proverbs 10:12; I Timothy 4:16; Proverbs 11:30