• 以赛亚书 55:10-11

雨雪从天而降，并不返回，
却要滋润土地，使地面发芽结实，
使撒种的有种，使要吃的有粮。
我口所出的话也必如此，
绝不徒然返回，
却要成就我的旨意，
达成我差它的目的。

• 雅各书 5:19-20

我的弟兄们，你们中间若有人迷失了真理而有人使他回转，这人该知道，使一个罪人从迷途中回转，会从死亡中把他的灵魂救回来，而且遮盖许多的罪。

上帝的话语大有能力。祂甚至在以赛亚书55:11宣告，祂的话语一经发出，就必成就祂的旨意。但这段话也包含一项严峻的真理：我们几天前读过，上帝的话语比两刃的剑更锋利（希伯来书4:12），能够把敬虔和不敬虔的人分别开来，所以上帝的话语的目的是要救赎那些接受它的人，但它最终也会审判那些拒绝它的人；一些人将因它得生，另一些人则因它而死。

我们必须时刻保守我们的心不至于失去对上帝的爱，或甚至跌落到对上帝的苦毒中。同时，我们也需要帮助我们的朋友走他们的信仰路程。当他们像是要远离上帝的时候，我们应该尽全力把他们挽回。

• Isaiah 55:10-11

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

• 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.

God’s word is so powerful that He declares here that it will do what it was sent to do. The awe in this passage is this truth, though: we read earlier that God’s word is sharper than a double-edged sword and divides the Godly from the ungodly. So the purpose of God’s word is to redeem those who accept it, but it will ultimately judge those who reject it; life for some, death for others.

We must constantly be on watch of our hearts, making sure they never slip from God’s love into bitterness against Him. And at the same time, we ought to be there for our friends in the midst of their journey. When they look to walk away from God, we should do everything we can to bring them back.

今早花些时间，为你生命中那些与上帝的话语和真理相对立的人祷告。求上帝用祂独特的方式软化他们的心，也求祂给你机会把真理传播到他们的生命中。

Spend some time this morning praying for those in your life that are currently on the ‘wrong side of the sword’ when it comes to God’s Word and truth. Ask that God soften their hearts in a way that only He can, but that He would also open up possibilities for you to speak truth into their life.