Daily devotion – Unsaved loved ones?
Unsaved Loved Ones?
John 1:40–42
“One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.”
Is your son or daughter not walking with the Lord? Perhaps a grandchild? Maybe a brother or sister who seems indifferent to the things of God? It is heartbreaking, and it can become a tremendous burden upon our hearts. So what do we do when we see those we love walking away from, or simply ignoring, the Lord?
Andrew gives us a wonderful example. Having found Jesus, the first person he thought of was his own brother, Simon. He went and found him and brought him to Jesus.
First, continue to love them sincerely.
Whatever their spiritual condition, never allow your love for them to disappear. Let them know that you love them and that you will always be there for them.
There may be times when they reject what you believe, become frustrated with your faith, or even distance themselves from you. But don’t burn the bridge that may one day become the pathway by which they return to Christ. Keep that bridge standing. Keep loving. Keep praying. Keep the door open.
Secondly, recognise that this is a spiritual battle.
This is not simply a matter of human rejection or stubbornness. Behind the darkness of unbelief is a spiritual enemy who seeks to keep people blinded to the truth of the Gospel.
That is why our response must not simply be argument, frustration or pressure. We need to take them before the throne of God in passionate, persistent intercessory prayer.
Don’t surrender their souls to the enemy. Don’t decide that they are “too far gone.” We serve a God who can break the strongest chains and open the hardest hearts.
Thirdly, don’t drop the ball in your own walk with Christ.
Continue to live faithfully before them. Don’t allow their unbelief to weaken your devotion.
Your life may be one of the greatest testimonies they ever see.
Let them observe your joy, your peace, your faithfulness, your forgiveness and your dependence upon Christ. When life becomes difficult, let them see that you still trust Him. When blessings come, let them see that you give Him the glory.
You may not be able to preach a sermon to them, but you can live one before them every day.
Fourthly, speak openly about Jesus.
Engage with them. Talk with them. Don’t be ashamed to acknowledge Christ as your Saviour.
Let Jesus naturally find His place in your conversations, your decisions, your priorities and your actions. Make it unmistakably clear that Christ is not simply part of your life—He is your life.
There is a difference between constantly preaching at someone and faithfully pointing someone toward Christ. Be wise, loving and discerning, but never hide the One who means everything to you.
Lastly, don’t give up.
Seek God urgently and continually for their salvation.
Place their names before the Lord every day. Cry out to Him on their behalf. Pray when you feel hopeful, and pray when you feel discouraged. Pray when you see movement, and pray when it appears that nothing is happening.
Don’t faintheartedly conclude that nothing will ever change.
Andrew went and found his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus. We may not be able to physically bring our loved ones to Christ, but we can bring them before Christ in prayer, and we can faithfully point them toward Him.
Remember, this is personal. We are speaking about eternal life and eternal death, forgiveness and judgement, heaven and hell.
So be relentless in prayer and never surrender hope.
Speak the truth in love about the power of the Gospel and the tragedy of rejecting God’s forgiveness and grace.
And while you wait, keep loving them, keep living for Christ, keep speaking of Jesus, and keep crying out to God for their salvation.
Who knows what God may yet do through your faithful prayers?
“And he brought him to Jesus.” — John 1:42