Devotions

Teachers of a false message and rejecters of the Lord Jesus Christ tragically influence those that come under the umbrella of Christendom. Some will follow out of weakness, others with a certain knowledge of what they are doing; in both cases, discernment is needed if we are to bring people to a place of full recovery. “Of some,” Jude says, “have compassion, making a difference.”
The description that we read of in Jude concerning apostasy and those who are wholly given to it is clear. Wandering stars will not return and trees twice dead and plucked up by the roots are only fit for the fire, but this doesn’t mean that we give up on those who have been drawn away from their first love.
On some have “compassion”, that is, on those who are young in their faith and have been influenced the wrong way, or those who are weak and need to be fed. Have compassion on the doubters, on those who are unstable, on those believers who have fallen victim to the false teaching that has been pressed upon them.
Having compassion does not mean we tolerate error; it does mean we act in a gracious and Christlike manner. There is no benefit in coming down severely and harshly upon such people and there is no excuse for acting in an arrogant or proud fashion refusing to deal with them. When those who are weak are restored, let those who are stronger in faith warmly accept their repentance and return to a closer walk with the Lord.
The instruction of Galatians 6:1 is relevant to this topic, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”