Calling Back the Wanderer: Our Mission | James 5:19-20

Have you ever felt the sting of watching someone you care about make choices that lead them down a destructive path? It’s heartbreaking—and yet, it’s also an invitation. What if God has placed you in their life not just to watch but to act?

Welcome to the Daily. We go through the bible verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter, every single day.

Our text today is James 5:19-20.

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

James concludes his letter with a call to action for all believers. He recognizes the reality of people who have "wandered" away—those who have drifted from the truth, been enticed by sin, or weighed down by trials. But notice how intentional James is: he doesn’t frame the script as mere observation but speaks to the one who cares enough to intervene. He highlights the beauty of a soul saved and the redemptive "covering of sins" when one is brought back to the truth. This is not just about correction; it’s about rescue, restoration, and renewal.

This scripture defines the kind of community we are called to build—one where wandering doesn’t end in permanent isolation but in redemption. It’s a call to a culture of persistence and pursuit of those who stray.

Here are two measures we can take:

First | Care Enough to Act: When someone wanders, the easiest response is to disengage and rationalize inaction—“It’s their choice” or “They won’t listen to me.” But James calls us to engage, to care deeply enough to take the risk. We should pray for boldness and wisdom to step into those tough conversations with love.

Second | Cultivate Caring Community: For a wandering soul to return, they need to know they’ll be met with grace and truth, not just hard truth and harsh judgment adding to shame. We should ask ourselves if my church, my small group, or my circle of friends is a place where people can find restoration.

Here's the bottom line of James' last line:

We should care enough to call them back and create a place for a comeback.

This is the community we strive to build—one where grace is abundant, truth is spoken in love, and no one is left to wander alone. We want to be a place where men and women can come back to Christ and grow deeper in their faith, knowing they’ll be met with open arms and a path to restoration. Let’s live this out together.

#RestoringFaith #GraceInAction #CommunityOfChrist

ASK THIS:
Who in your life might need to be lovingly called back to the truth?
What fears or hesitations keep you from acting when someone strays from faith?
How can your community become a place of grace and restoration?
What steps can you take to ensure truth is spoken in love rather than judgment?
DO THIS:

Identify one person in your life who has wandered from the truth. Commit to praying for them and reaching out in love this week.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, give me a heart that cares enough to act when I see others wander from You. Help me to create a community that reflects Your grace and truth, where restoration is always possible. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Here Again.