Restoration and Forgiveness on Dec 18 2014

Restoration and Forgiveness

Read James 5:19-20. How does the work described here compare with the work done by Elijah, John the Baptist, and others? See Luke 1:16-17; Acts 3:19.

My husband has wondered away from the truth for almost 9 years. I don't know whether I am able or even capable of turning him back since he has asked me not to attempt nor even pray for him to come back to the Lord. Therefore, I pray that someone turns him back and let him knows his error. As a wife, I hope to turn him away from his error but I know my husband. He will not listen to my advice. He will choose to listen to his "friend's" advice. I pray that his "friend" will help him. Just like many years ago, a stranger who becomes my friend was able to turn me from my error and save my soul from death. 

As I study my quarterly lesson, I ponder upon the goodness of late Andrew Chan Cheak Wan. He truly covered a multitude of sins for me. His witnessing compared with the work done by Elijah, John the Baptist and others was that he turned me to become a child of God. Late Andrew was anointed with God's Spirit. I was a disobedient child but I looked up to his wisdom when he invited me to his home, explained to me the scriptures from Daniel and Revelation. He made me ready for a serious one year bible study prior to baptism at United States in Kentucky, Morehead. Late Andrew had indeed prepared me to accept Jesus Christ as my personal savior.  

I repent and therefore be converted so that my sins may be blotted out. My conversion requires me to do the work of saving souls, especially dealing with my husband who departed from truth with much patience, sympathy, tenderness, and humility. I learn to love my husband with gentleness. Restoration and forgiveness in my marriage is about learning to love like Jesus. If I have hatred in my heart, it only stirs up strife in my family. I'm reminded to love, so that love covers all sins.  

Prov. 10:12

12 Hatred stirs up strife, 

But love covers all sins.

Think of someone who has really done wrong and knows it too. What can you do, what can you say, to help draw this person back toward the Lord?

What I can do is to have sympathy and empathy for the person. What I say is not important. In order to draw a person back toward the Lord, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. I need to have the Holy Spirit resides in me in order not to have a double-minded behavior. My actions always speak louder than words.