True born again believers are like a close knit family. What happens if someone goes astray?

 Are you wondering why I would insert a picture of such odd sloppy looking socks at the beginning of this article? Ponder no more! These socks are old, as in really, really old.  Old that is if you think the year 300 is a long time ago. They look incredible strong don’t they? Well, another one of my favorite verses is Colossian 2:2, “That they may be knitted together in love.” 
I had a first -hand experience many years ago that showed me how closely knit the children of the Heavenly Father are. Remember those metal stacking chairs? Maybe you even have a set. Well, as some of you already know we raised a large family which means we had quite a number of those chairs. At least fourteen so there would be a few extra for guests. 
Well one day I got the notion to stack them, why I don’t know, unless it was simpler to wash the floor that way. So up and up the piles grew. Until something happened, OOOUCH!!  I got my hand pinched between the metal frame-work somehow and all that extra weigh was pressing down on it. It only took a second or two to release my hand but oh did I ever writhe in pain.
Instantly I thought of the Christian parallel. “And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it: or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.” 1st Corinthians 12:26. There is a tremendously close bond between true brothers and sisters in Christ, and I know from experience how much it hurts to see one go astray. 
Keep that fire of love burning brightly by not gossiping, criticizing or anything else that could make it grow cool. And remember if the knitting is getting a little thin in spots, get mending.