Opening Prayer
Lord God, give us the desire and strength of love for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Text: James 5:19-20
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
Devotion
When people sin both against God and against you, do not let this subdue your love. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21). Let it grieve you that they are so unhappy. Put yourself in their place, and have loving care for their trouble. Those who live in sin are slaves of their desires, without peace and in bondage, and you would be the same as they if the Lord had not saved you by graciously calling you. They will be eternally lost if they do not repent, – shouldn’t this go to your heart? It is indeed their own fault that they serve the devil, but it is only by the Lord’s mercy that you are saved. Surely Satan rules in the ungodly, but it is just as certain that God has no pleasure in the death of any sinner, but that they repent and live. Their hearts have closed themselves so tightly against His Word, but by the grace of the Holy Spirit it may be possible to find a crevice in the ice, a thread may be found which leads through the labyrinth of the soul to find a place where the Word from God can be heard. Try to find this crevice, this thread; it is worth the effort. God will let it be successful and then you save a soul from eternal death. Here it is good if you have some knowledge of the human soul and have a sharp eye. But this is not given to everyone, and the main thing is that you have love. It is well said that “love is blind,” and there is something in that, for it is slow to see others’ faults. But love can see, yes, it alone, for it alone finds the way to your neighbor’s heart. It is said that love is weak, but it is strong, so strong that your neighbor’s great failings are a small thing to bear. It is strong, persistent, and persevering, and does not give up before his soul is won. Elijah prayed in the name of righteousness for drought and for rain, and it happened. Yet he was only a man, subject to similar circumstances as we have. Won’t God hear your fervent, persistent prayer in the name of love for the salvation of an erring soul, whom He loved even to the death of the cross? If only we had such love! O if only we had love so that we should be truly blessed co-workers with the Lord, save many souls from death, and cover many sins, yes, rightly to “cover a multitude of sins!”
Closing Prayer
We pray You again, merciful God, for love. Grant it to us for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Hymn
O Jesus, Ruler of all grace,
True Fountain of love’s caring,
You died my sin’s debt to erase,
Your own life never sparing.
Grant that my neighbor I may love –
As You have taught me from above –
No ill against him bearing.
May falsehood’s charm still never be
Between my lips invading,
No lying ever wickedly
My speech be yet pervading;
But grant that I in truth may stand
And truly love both God and man,
My soul with gladness sating.
Kingo: O Jesu, du al Naadens Væld L 464 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Es ist das Heil (ELH 227); alternate hymn: We are called by one vocation ELH 421