Acts 16:31, “They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved– you and your household.’”
Paul and Silas gave the person in today’s passage one of the greatest promises of the Bible because they were given future knowledge about what would happen when the man brought them home to meet his family. The promise came to pass when all of the man’s family received Jesus and were saved when Paul and Silas met them and preached the gospel to them.
I believe that the verse is a general promise for all believers, concerning the will of God for lost family members. Paul wrote, in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, “1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” God wants you to pray for your family to be saved, knowing and believing that He strongly desires their salvation because He wants, “all people to be saved!”
For years, my parents prayed for me without ceasing; and, my mother saw her prayers answered when I got saved at her kitchen table.
Our prayers don’t override people’s freedom of choice; however, I believe our prayers make more opportunities for them to hear the gospel and give them protection to have more time.
Charles Finney said, “It is evident that the prayer of faith will obtain the blessing, from the fact that our faith rests on evidence that to grant that thing is the will of God.” And we can trust that it is the will of God to save everyone who believes in Him by giving them many chances to do so.
Take time, everyday, to pray for God to save your lost family members based on His revealed will for all people to be saved. Don’t get discouraged if they don’t get saved immediately or even if they get worse after you pray, because you are fighting for their soul against the Devil and his evil forces (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). I believe God will keep His Word and make many opportunities for your family to be saved!
REFLECTION
Are you praying for all of your family to be saved?
ACTION
- If you have doubts that God wants to save your entire family, pray for Him to reveal His love to you.
- Faithfully pray for your lost relatives to be saved.
- Preach the gospel to your lost relatives whenever you can.
