James began his letter with "Count it all joy when you face various trials and temptations for it is a strengthening of your faith." Throughout the letter there has been a strong emphasis on strengthening faith along with eliminating that which draws us away from Christ.

Now in the letter to those who have grown in faith, James, in the conclusion, gives a word of warning and a challenge.

The warning is, "if one of you wanders away from the truth," no matter how many times we have come through trials and temptations, Satan is not through with us. Have you ever wondered why you have to go through so many trials? Maybe health concerns, family problems, finances, or whatever, are always dragging you down, and you have a tendency to blame God. If so, just remember it is Satan who keeps pulling and tugging. It is God who over and over again has taken your outstretched hand and brought you out of the grasp of Satan. No matter how many times that has happened, it is no guarantee that it will not happen again.

Here is the upbeat conclusion along with the challenge. The upbeat conclusion is that if you wander away and if you have been a part of a fellowship of believers, usually but not always, the church, your brothers and sisters in Christ are there to THROW OUT THE LIFELINE and enter into a tug of war with Satan. The challenge then is to each of us to be aware when Satan tries to break down our ranks by enticing one of us away. Have you paid attention to the very last words of the Letter, "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"?

There you have it. We go through trials and temptations, and our faith grows and is strengthened. This is not for our glory but so that we can be ready to help another one who might be drawn away. There is a hymn that is not sung in many churches because it requires action. Lets face it, when we prefer to sing, STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS while we are sitting down, doesn’t that suggest we don’t get very excited about what we sing?

Maybe this old, old song might be a tune that will run through our heads and inspire us to always be aware of the brother or sister in Christ who might need the Lifeline to Christ:

Throw out the life line across the dark wave;
There is a brother whom someone should save;
Somebody’s brother! O who then will dare
To throw out the life line, his peril to share?

Refrain

Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!
Someone is drifting away;
Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line!
Someone is sinking today.

Throw out the life line with hand quick and strong:
Why do you tarry, why linger so long?
See! he is sinking; oh, hasten today
And out with the life boat! away, then away!

Refrain

‘THROW OUT THE LIFELINE’ from cyberhymnal.org

WE PRAY. Heavenly Father, continue to send the Holy Spirit upon me that my faith might grow and grow. Help me to be ever mindful of others that I might always be ready to assist them if they begin to wander away from your love. AMEN.

A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

Try to train yourself to observe and identify the needs of others. When you have identified a need, write it down. Remember, only God has the ability to fill every need of every person, so don’t try to do that. As you make your notes, you will find something that you can do to help another. You may never know if one little deed was the very lifeline to Christ that the person needed.