A week ago I wrote a post about helping a ninety year old friend of mine by asking our readers to pray for his daughters and other family members who are non-believers. It is the first time in almost thirteen years of writing that I asked our readership to implore the Holy Spirit to nudge those far from the Lord toward becoming believers. While I usually receive several emails or social media comments about each post I write, I couldn’t believe the outpouring of emotion that my post generated. Holy cow, it really did border on being completely unbelievable!
In fact, I was taken aback by the emotion that the post generated. One of my friends wrote and started his email with the words, “I’m in!” Another dear friend asked if he could ask me to pray for his family members who were non-believers. Of course, and there were a number of them, I added them to my prayer list. He generously added my friend’s family to his own prayer list.
A number of others, several of whom are prayer warriors, also wrote to me and offered to add their petitions to God. And I know all these folks. They know how to pray with intensity!
Throughout the years, the readership of TBTB has been very affirming in their support of our mission to make sure that people realize that God walks through life with each of us. That’s the whole idea – we have to look for God and realize that we don’t serve a God who spun the world into existence and then just sat by to see what would happen. There are miracles all around us – every day! We have to be aware of that and live our lives expecting miracles. God is present every moment of every day – and active in our lives…
What surprised me most is how many people mentioned the fact that they had family members who were far from the Lord. More than I expected! However, the notes I received were hopeful. Because we know with God all things are possible and with legions of people praying for those who are unsaved, we have a real chance to impact the world for Christ.
So as we come to close the books on 2023, we have our thematic goal for 2024 – to pray for those who are unsaved. As a group, we are a force to be reckoned with… We can be instrumental in affecting people for all eternity. We serve an awesome God and it is important that we remember that. Because, among other things, God listens to prayer.
Our verse for tonight is the foundational verse of the entire Bible. The apostle John tells us, in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (KJV)
This verse gives us the map to salvation in its entirety. We can’t earn our way into heaven, or buy our way into heaven. Eternal life with God is a GIFT – it’s as simple as that. It’s free! We just have to accept the offer.
My encouragement this evening is that God wants to spend eternity with us more than we can possibly imagine. His love for us is beyond our wildest dreams. My prayer is that we will unite as a community of believers and dedicate ourselves to include prayers for non-believers in our daily devotions. After all, we are talking about the greatest transition that any of us can possibly experience. That is the transition from eternal separation from God to eternal life with Him. That’s what the people of God should be about! Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…