These closing words of James are a challenge that would motivate and encourage us to become actively engaged in rescuing sinners.

James 5:19 "Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,"

The "if" of James declares a real possibility. In his letter he has been seeking to return those who have strayed from the truth. All his pointed argument is to turn the wanderers back to the gospel of Christ, and to bring their lives and conduct again under the Lordship of Christ. In answer to the question "Why should Christians have a deep concern for wanderers?" - consider these two reasons:

Straying from the truth can be, as Barnes says, "Either doctrinally and speculatively, by embracing error; or practically by falling into sinful practices."

The noun 'aletheia' - truth - is used here by James to signify the truth of the gospel, as opposed to error. To wander from the truth is to turn from Jesus Christ who Himself is the truth.

John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

	To turn away from the Spirit of truth is to be without guidance into all truth: John 16:13 "[ "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;] for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
	To stray from the truth of the gospel is to lose the message of hope: Colossians 1:5 "For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; "
	To stray is to turn away from God who wants all to be saved through coming to a knowledge of the truth (Galatians 2:4-5 ): 1 Timothy 2:4,5 "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; "
	To stray from the truth is to have faith overthrown by error: 2 Timothy 2:18 "Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."
	To stray from the truth is to practice what the truth rejects: 1 Timothy 4:3 "Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth."
	To stray from the truth is practicing the things of darkness: 1 John 1:6 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:" 1 John 2:4 "He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

We should have a deep, passionate desire to win the lost to the Saviour, and make it a priority to return wanderers back to truth and life under the lordship of Christ. We should be seeking to recover the lost. In Luke 15:1-10 the Lord speaks of the lost sheep. He wants us to know the great joy of finding the wandering sheep and returning them to the fold. The second reason for concern is also one for urgency.