Are you praying for a loved one who does not know Christ? Encourage them to keep reading the Word of God.
I have a heart to help your friend come to know Jesus Christ.
I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and you, no doubt, have more than a few friends you’ve been praying for, asking God to open their hearts to the Gospel. Maybe you have shared your testimony; perhaps you’ve walked them through the salvation message in a Gospel tract. They seem curious, even interested, and you are wondering about the next step. Well, I’ve been praying for my nephew who has wandered far from the faith. He’s heard the Gospel and he once made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, but that was long ago, and much water, along with many painful problems, has gone under the bridge since then.
But when I connect with my nephew, I’m always reminded of Romans 10, that “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Or to use Peter’s words, new birth comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. And it’s why I am always telling my nephew to stay in the Word of God. If you are bewildered or frustrated, read the Psalms. Keep listening to good Bible teaching on the radio that uplifts the Word of God. I encourage my nephew to keep listening to the Word of God on his iPhone. Keep thinking about God’s Word. Keep posing questions. Keep taking your problems to the pages of the Bible and look up answers. If you are praying for a loved one who does not know Christ, keep encouraging them to keep reading the Word of God. Keep pondering the Word of God. Give him a book. Show him an article. Jot him a note and always include Scripture. Why? ’Cause Romans 10 says, faith – even saving faith – comes by hearing the Word of God. Faith is stirred and given birth; God gives saving faith by reading the Word of God. This is how God brings saving faith into an unbeliever’s heart; he stirs faith and brings it into being by hearing and reading the Word. It’s what God uses to awaken unbelievers: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” New birth comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. So, keep exposing your loved one to the words of Scripture in whatever way you can.
One of my favorite Bible passages on this whole subject is in Lamentations 5. There were certain people in the Old Testament who were so trapped in their own sin, they could not find their way back. I don’t know; maybe I’m describing you today. If so – like my dear nephew, maybe you’ve wandered afar – then please pray these exact words from Lamentations 5 and say, “Cause me to return, and I will return, O God.” Now I tell you, that is an amazing prayer. It’s like saying, “God, I don’t have it in me, I’m not able; I don’t believe; I can’t feel my way back; so would you please make me come back, cause me to come back to you, and I will! Do whatever it takes, God!” It’s a prayer from your heart; it’s a crying out; it’s a humbling of yourself and begging for God to grab you by the shoulders of your soul and positively pull you into the kingdom.
As I often say, the time is short, days are evil, this season is so dark, and the cosmic stakes are way too high for you or your friend to ignore the call of God on your life. Remember that faith is built up by spending time in God’s Word. And faith is acted upon when we pray to the Lord, “Oh, Jesus, cause me to return and I will return.” Friend, don’t let this day close out without making certain that God has made his peace with you, and that you are safe through the blood of Jesus Christ. And should you think of it, pray that way for my nephew.
© Joni and Friends