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astray, we have turned every one to his own way”, Isaiah 53:

6. “His own way”; that is the secret here.

The sinner must be helped to abandon “his own way” and to

direct his feet into the way of righteousness, the way of peace.

His natural tendencies, his native proclivities, must be judged,

the whole trend of his moral being away from the truth must be

judged. What fine work, what gracious work, to help the sinner

by bringing him back! How shall I do it? one may ask. Well, our

apostles help us here. It is a question of resources. James

himself would urge us to get wisdom (James 1: 5); John would

encourage us with the availability and plenitude of grace (John

1: 16), and Paul would impress us with the value of spirituality

(Galatians 6: 1). Have we the heart for this kind of work?

Surely the result is worthwhile—

“let him know that he that brings back a sinner from the error

of his way shall save a soul from death and shall cover a

multitude of sins”. It is priestliness at its

best, energy and love spiritually applied to bring back the

erring brother or sister. Saving a soul from death and covering

a multitude of sins is fine priestly work. May the Lord give us

grace to bring erring ones back to the truth in this day of

general departure.

Ormond Beach, Florida