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.
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4 Comments
ABBA you are faithful
My 2 boys were raised in a church when they were little. My oldest accepted Jesus at 10 but has strayed away. He struggles with alcoholism. But his present situation has changed his circumstances so I have committed him to God. My youngest has questioned my faith since I turned my life over to God. He knows about Jesus and what He has done for us. I need to talk to him more to see if he accepted Jesus as his Savior. And I commit him to God. ?
Mine are still walking with the Lord it is s hard and unjust world for them abd still they pray. I have to sat that tge example church people set is hard to tolerate at times. I come from an family where my mother Gertje was disowned because she married outside of her church. There was no acceptance from th r m and I never knew them. Which I think was a blessing from God but which crushed my parents. Cruelty. But then there is Grace!
God gave me 4 children from four different failies, all ten or older. While each has made a profession of faith, most of their families are nit faithful. To "commit them to the Lord and back away" seems difficult for me. Thank you for the reminder and the encouraging words.