SHEPHERD TO SHEEP
UNSAVED LOVED ONES
(Rom 10:1) Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
One of our greatest concerns as believers in Christ is for our loved ones to be saved. We know that some of them know and love the Lord. Some of them use to be close to the Lord. And we are praying for others to be saved for the first time. It’s a burden that we carry with us until each loved is born again and walking with the Lord in full commitment. That’s how Paul felt with his fellow Jewish countrymen. God knows our desires and hears our prayers for our loved ones. They will come to the Lord but we have to be patient until God works out His overall glorious plan in their lives.
Paul was so grieved about the Jews rejection of Jesus that he stated he would be accursed for the Jews if that meant their salvation (9:1-3). This is how Moses felt with the Israelites in the wilderness. (Exo 32:31-32) Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! {32} "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin; but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." Isn’t that how we feel about our loved ones who still need to come to Christ? But we know that we can’t be accursed for others because Jesus already took the curse for them. (Gal 3:13) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree").
Through prayer we are claiming our loved ones for the Lord. We are moving them on the spiritual graph from the negative to the point of salvation. Until then we have to be encouraged that our prayers are working on their behalf. Though they haven’t made that full commitment to the Lord, we know God is working behind the scenes. Let’s not lose faith and give up in the battle for their souls. They might be closer than you think! (Luke 18:1) Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart…(Gal 6:9) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. I knew one woman who every night laid hands on her husband in bed to receive the Lord. (He was a heavy sleeper!) What a prayer warrior!
(Rom 10:1) Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
One of our greatest concerns as believers in Christ is for our loved ones to be saved. We know that some of them know and love the Lord. Some of them use to be close to the Lord. And we are praying for others to be saved for the first time. It’s a burden that we carry with us until each loved is born again and walking with the Lord in full commitment. That’s how Paul felt with his fellow Jewish countrymen. God knows our desires and hears our prayers for our loved ones. They will come to the Lord but we have to be patient until God works out His overall glorious plan in their lives.
Paul was so grieved about the Jews rejection of Jesus that he stated he would be accursed for the Jews if that meant their salvation (9:1-3). This is how Moses felt with the Israelites in the wilderness. (Exo 32:31-32) Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! {32} "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin; but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." Isn’t that how we feel about our loved ones who still need to come to Christ? But we know that we can’t be accursed for others because Jesus already took the curse for them. (Gal 3:13) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree").
Through prayer we are claiming our loved ones for the Lord. We are moving them on the spiritual graph from the negative to the point of salvation. Until then we have to be encouraged that our prayers are working on their behalf. Though they haven’t made that full commitment to the Lord, we know God is working behind the scenes. Let’s not lose faith and give up in the battle for their souls. They might be closer than you think! (Luke 18:1) Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart…(Gal 6:9) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. I knew one woman who every night laid hands on her husband in bed to receive the Lord. (He was a heavy sleeper!) What a prayer warrior!
Remember the Philippian jailer? When Paul and Silas were thrown into prison for preaching Christ they were singing hymns to God at midnight. Suddenly the prison shook and everyone’s chains fell off. The jailer was so taken by this that he drew his sword and was about to take his own life. Paul told him not to do it. He then came and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas and asked what he must do to be saved. (Acts 16:31) So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." They then spoke the word of God to him and to his whole household. Everyone in the family received the Lord and were baptized!
Have you claimed your family for Christ? Of course each member of your family has a free will but the door of salvation is open to them through your witness so they can willingly choose. (1 Cor 7:14) For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. Just think of how glorious it will be when your loved ones come to the Lord. It will be beyond your expectations. View your loved ones through the eyes of faith and pray for them every day. Do what you can to influence them for Christ. Then stand back and watch God work! (Josh 24:15) "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Louie
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