Praying Saving Faith for All, Especially Those on My Heart

I recently received a call from a Christian friend. This lady and I caught up a little, and then she shared the real reason for her calling. She was concerned for a young man we both know and care about. He has faced some life challenges. But what really concerned her was that, when she talked and listened to him, this young man told her that he was no longer a Christian believer. She asked me to pray for him. I am praying.

Considering what Scripture teaches, lack of faith in Jesus is concerning. Most people know John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Martin Luther called this verse “the Gospel in a nutshell,” teaching about the eternal love of God shown in the gift of His son, Jesus. We receive eternal life ‘by faith’, through believing. However, many forget the next words of truth from Scripture in John 3:17-18. “17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” God is so good and gracious and loving that, in order to save the world, He even sent His Son! We are saved by grace, because of Jesus, as we believe in Him. Yet, not believing rejects God’s gift of love, and can lose eternal life.

Therefore, especially when we care about someone, we desire that they know God’s love for them, personally, in Jesus. And, we are concerned when anyone, especially those whom we love, struggle with trusting our Lord. That is one reason that my wife has often shared that her favorite Bible verse is 3 John 4. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” Kathy desires God’s eternal love for those whom she loves.

I have shared before through these devotions that in my daily prayer list I have different categories for my prayers. I pray for those who are seriously ill now, for those with cancer, and for those who are chronically ill. I also pray for those with troubles, for our country, for God’s church, for families and for my family. In the midst of all those prayers I also have a list of people whom I pray for, praying that they return to faith, or come to faith. I looked closer at this list today. There are 16 names, and of those people, 9 have faced a major loss or tragedy in recent years. I understand their hurt, and their questions, at least in part.

I too wonder at times about where God is in the losses and the tragedies of this life. However, what I read in Scripture, and what I trust, is that our Lord is wise when we are confused. I believe that God acts in wisdom and in love, even when I don’t understand. Our Heavenly Father has especially shown His love in Jesus, and in His cross and empty tomb. But sometimes life so painful that people also doubt, or they can even lose faith in God.

In my devotional Bible readings we are currently in the book of Hebrews. The editor of this devotional has mentioned in recent devotions that there are 5 warnings in this book about falling away from a life of faith. This epistle warns those in God’s church about the danger of falling away from the grace of God. The writer cared about these believers and desired their eternal salvation. His final blessing is “20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21) He prays for their faith and their eternal welfare.

I also believe that the best witness to those who do not know our Lord’s grace, or who doubt the love of God, is not found in the correct words of a finely crafted argument. My experience tells me that a life of faith and love may catch the attention of another person and lead them to ask the reason for the peace and hope a Christian has. As Peter writes, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15) A gentle and respectful example and answer can help someone who is struggling with faith.

Along with Kathy, my daily prayer for my immediate family is for “active Christian faith,” faith that Jesus acts in love and wisdom, faith that the life and death and resurrection of Jesus are God’s answer to all our failures and all of life’s hurts.

You may may rejoice to know that there are quite a number of folks for whom I have prayed in the past for their faith, who are no longer unbelievers, but who have returned to trusting God’s love and saving grace. Praise the Lord!

What are you struggling with? For whom are you praying?