Serve to the Sinner

My role is to:

“¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

It is not to do all that brings glory to me. And this morning, I can see how I have to keep all of God’s Word in my heart, and not just what I am reading. In the last chapter of the book of James, I found myself thinking of this very thing as I read the final two verses.

“¹⁹My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, ²⁰let 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 (ESV)

I can see how when you are looking at this short passage, it would drive one to go out and save as many sinners as possible thinking that the more you bring back to God, the more you are looked upon favorably. It looks at first take that the one who brings back the sinner is the one saving their soul and for that, one can certainly get the big head.

It is not until you take on the totality of God’s Word that I am able to get grounded in doing the work of Christ, not for me but for Him. I have to be the servant for the sake of serving others and that goes for bringing sinners back as they have fallen away from Christ.

“²⁶It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ²⁷and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, ²⁸even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Matthew 20:28 (ESV)

See above the words of Jesus that we are to be servants in order to gain greatness. Yet, it is still about the service, not the greatness. I have to remember to put aside my own desires and follow Christ and His direction. I am to “Go” and be a “Servant” to all including, and everyone, the sinners.

All sinners are precious in the eyes of God. All sinners have the chance to receive salvation. All sinners are to be served. I have to remember the precious sinners and bring the gospel to them by serving them in the name of Christ.

How do you look upon your work with sinners? Are you looking as though it is your responsibility to save them for your glory? What if you served them by bringing them closer to God, not for you, but for them and the work of the LORD?