Acts 16:31, “They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved— you and your household.”
Salvation is a personal decision that only can be made by an individual who desires to place their faith and trust in the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has told us in 1 Timothy 2:4 that He, “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” Therefore, it should be the prayer and expectation of every born again disciple for their whole family (“household”) to be saved.
As a pastor, I have seen entire families come to faith in Jesus Christ. I’ve witnessed salvation start with a teenager and then come to the parents- along with all the other siblings. I’ve watched one parent accept Jesus then bring their spouse and kids and the whole family get born again. One time I saw a faithful mother and wife serve Jesus while everyone in her family rejected Him and then “all of a sudden” the walls broke down and everyone in her house came to Jesus! As disciples of Christ, we should never stop believing and praying for God to save our whole household.
If you live in a house with unsaved people, pray and never stop believing for all of them to be saved. For those of us who live in a house where everyone is already saved, believe God to save all your extended family. And everyone should always pray for the lost families in our neighborhoods and on our jobs.
Here are some great ways to have a gospel centered home; first, make family devotions a must each day; teach your children Scriptures and Bible stories. Second, always keep your house accountable to serving Jesus; don’t let pornography, drugs or bad influences in your home. Third, always pray at family meals and gatherings; share something encouraging from God’s Word that will teach, rebuke, correct and train in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Fourth, when lost family members or friends come over, have your children recite their memory verses to them and share the gospel with them; everybody loves to listen to children talk about Jesus! Fifth, do gospel outreaches together with the whole family. I love to bring my kids with me to the parks when I preach the gospel. Sixth, lift Jesus up in your family and He will draw everyone to Himself (John 12:32).
One encouraging testimony of a whole household coming to Jesus comes from a band member of, “Adam’s Road,” Micah Wilder. Before he came to Christ he was a devout Mormon. Micah became a Christian during his mission work for the Mormon Church when a Baptist pastor gave him the gospel. When he came back his family heard his testimony and eventually his parents and all his siblings accepted Jesus!
Reflection
Do you believe God desires to save your whole household?
Action
- Pray daily for everyone in your house to be saved if they are not already born again.
- Pray for everyone in your extended family to come to faith in Jesus.
- Regularly make time to preach the gospel in your house and together with your family in public to reach other people’s lost family members with the gospel!
