Do you know someone who needs to hear about Jesus? Is there someone you know who you wish would become a follower of His? Have they heard the message about Him? Have you asked God to open their heart to the message of Jesus?
I’m guessing every one of us knows someone, or multiple someone’s, we would like to see become a committed follower of Jesus. We point to the bad decisions they are making. We care for them and want to see them for eternity. But we can’t seem to reach them.
Something we have all likely experienced is this, our kids listen better to someone else than they do us. At least, during their teenage and sometimes early twenties years. I’m not sure if it’s the familiarity with us or them feeling their way through early adulthood, but they are more apt to listen to someone else in church, a teacher at school, friends, or perhaps a co-worker. Isn’t it funny they will listen to a college professor, who is as old or older than us, yet think we are old fashioned?
So, how do we reach those we care about? We might need to think about arranging for them to speak with someone else who will give them the message of Christ. We should pray that God open their hearts and minds to hear His message. Ask God to work in their lives in such a way to make it very clear He wants them to be part of His family. In other words, turn them over to God and simply love them. Not really an easy thing to do.
Here is the amazing thing, God works when we can’t. God knows when we will not be effective messengers. He works in other ways. He knows when we feel helpless. He knows our desires for the other person. He knows they won’t really listen to us. And He also knows who they will listen to and when they will be open to listen. Sometimes, we (they) need to go through some type of difficulty before we are open to hear God’s message.
I pray we all show Jesus to others, more so through our love than our words. I pray we ask God to open hearts and minds. I pray each one of us lay our concerns for loved ones at the feet of God and allow Him to work. Turn to God when you feel helpless. Turn your loved ones over to Him. Ask God to open hearts and minds. Leave room for God to work.
Acts 16:13-15a On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home.
Marty Pressey 