Committing Others To Christ
From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. – Acts 14:26-27
As I was praying this morning, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the people who have kids or family members who professed faith in Jesus Christ at one time. But now their life seems to be off course and their values are misaligned. Their behavior, although civil, is not what you dreamed it would be. So what are we to do about it? How do you handle this sad reality when it breaks your heart? It wasn't your plan for them. Do you think it breaks God's heart? I can assure you, it does.
So that being said, what will God do about it? We need to realize that when we commit someone to the Lord, we need to simply do that. Give them to Jesus, pray for them as often as God brings them to your mind, and trust that the Lord is in charge. Then, back away and give God time to do His work.
Were there some failures in the early church? Of course! They had all kinds of doctrinal problems and many relationship issues. The church has continued because they were committed to the Lord. If the lives of people who have had a relationship are ever going to change, it will be because God deals with them.
If you’re struggling with worrying about the faith of your kids or your family members, let me encourage you that the story is not over yet. The book is not closed right now. As my father-in-law once said, the greatest father to Israel was God Himself, but still the children of Israel drifted away until He grabbed hold of them once again.
The book is not closed yet, so don't close the book on your kids. Don't close the book on your friends. Don't close the book and wipe your hands clean of people who have disappointed you over the years. Commit them to the Lord and back away. As the church was committed, we need to commit other people to the Lord and pray for them.
As I was praying this morning, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the people who have kids or family members who professed faith in Jesus Christ at one time. But now their life seems to be off course and their values are misaligned. Their behavior, although civil, is not what you dreamed it would be. So what are we to do about it? How do you handle this sad reality when it breaks your heart? It wasn't your plan for them. Do you think it breaks God's heart? I can assure you, it does.
So that being said, what will God do about it? We need to realize that when we commit someone to the Lord, we need to simply do that. Give them to Jesus, pray for them as often as God brings them to your mind, and trust that the Lord is in charge. Then, back away and give God time to do His work.
Were there some failures in the early church? Of course! They had all kinds of doctrinal problems and many relationship issues. The church has continued because they were committed to the Lord. If the lives of people who have had a relationship are ever going to change, it will be because God deals with them.
If you’re struggling with worrying about the faith of your kids or your family members, let me encourage you that the story is not over yet. The book is not closed right now. As my father-in-law once said, the greatest father to Israel was God Himself, but still the children of Israel drifted away until He grabbed hold of them once again.
The book is not closed yet, so don't close the book on your kids. Don't close the book on your friends. Don't close the book and wipe your hands clean of people who have disappointed you over the years. Commit them to the Lord and back away. As the church was committed, we need to commit other people to the Lord and pray for them.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
Building Men Over MembershipsActions and WordsPraying in God’s WillA Call to God’s ChurchFalse ProphetsJesus Intercedes for YouAre You Encouraging Others?Strengthening BelieversSalvation Is SimpleCounterfeit TeachingBe Ready for the End Jesus Understands Your PainLooking ForwardCommitting Others To ChristSharing Your StoryTaking the Time To BlessPraying for UnbelieversA Word of BlessingJesus Cares about YouThe PavementAre You Confessed Up To Date?Fighting Self-Sufficiency With PrayerBe Responsible for Your ChildrenJesus Is Standing with You The Promise of the Holy SpiritBe Aligned in PrayerI Am InnocentAligned PrayersPraying with PowerDealing with ProblemsHandling Stress
February
Come and SeeA Childlike FaithDon’t Miss OutWhy Support Israel?Praying For IsraelHow To Honor GodResisting EvilThe Lord Encourages UsJesus Is the AuthorityGod ProvidesLiving Out The Great CommissionMaking SureA Heart of RepentanceSharing Your FaithSubmitting to God’s WillSecure in Your IdentityHow Are You Filled?God Is All-SufficientJesus Is The Only WayPray, Just PrayNo Sin Is Too BigThe Purpose in PainFeed Your FaithStay in Love with JesusIt’s Only JesusRemember Who God IsGifts from the Holy SpiritThis World Is Not Your HomeBe Different
March
Admitting You Are WrongMoney Can’t Buy HappinessMy ConfidenceChanged by Christ Faith and UnderstandingDo Angels Exist?Falling at Jesus’ FeetBorn AgainThe Fullness of JesusExperiencing Christ’s FullnessThe Lord’s ProtectionPraying FriendsA Hand of BlessingBe StillYour Heavenly FatherBlessing Your ChildrenGod Is Our ProviderTime To StopSimply Follow ChristFathers Loving MothersEvery Knee Will BowWhen God Repeats HimselfThe Seven ChurchesTaking Up Your CrossMake Peace With GodGod Gives Free WillGod’s Healing PowerGo All in for ChristAbiding and RestingBelieving God’s WordWhat Hangs In The Balance Of Evangelism?
8 Comments
Yesterday on 1-13-2024 We had a celebration of life for my daughter on her 36th birthday. She committed her life to Jesus when she was 10 years old. As she got older she lived of the world. She had gotten her life straight, but her relationship with Jesus was unknown. I pray to see my daughter when I go home.
I pray that my son and daughter-in-law will come to know and love God and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I pray that they see it is God who blessed them with their home, jobs and so much more. I pray God will bless them with a baby
Thank you for your encouraging message today. Please, pray for the salvation of my husband and 2 daughters. I pray for them every day. Thank you.
This hit home today as I struggle with how my husband is living and tacking care of himself and the issues with his daughter. I will continue to commit them to god in prayer
I've definitely struggled with this since I gave my life in 1995 to Jesus Christ. Today, I still struggle immensely. I am trying hard to give it over to the Lord. My family, my work family, my friends, and so forth. I need to learn to let go, let God deal with it. He will do his work as long as I pray and continue to think of them.
Many years ago I Committed MY Sons to The Lord and I Praise him every day for his Grace . It is sometimes so difficult being patient, waiting on JESUS to work in their Lives. I Believe and Trust GOD to answer my 🙠for My Loved Ones. I Know GOD Will. ! PRAISE JESUS,
Never, ever give up on anyone !!
My brother who I was estranged from for years and was not in the best place physically or mentally. I prayed and prayed about our relationship and his lifestyle and then one day the Lord said it's time. You need to speak with him and fast forward to today we are the very best of friends.
Please know that as long as you have prayer there is hope. â¤ï¸
And no one is to far lost that they can not be found.
I definitely needed to see this today. My two sons are the kindest, most civil, men I know. Despite that, they have chosen to be apart from the Lord. As I meditated on this last week, I was truly tempted to simply give up on them; "shake their dust off my shoes", so to speak. I decided to postpone that decision until I had an undeniable sense of guidance from the Lord. This messsage has convinced me that I'm not done; not yet, anyway. My prayer and prayer request is that the Holy Spirit guides me to and through that moment that will knock down the walls my sons have built. If I can't knock them down, at least let me punch through some of the load-bearing bricks in those walls. In Jesus name I pray. Amen!