Family
by Jackie Ricks
Holiday season is the time when many of us see family we haven’t seen in months. We had 27 people from 4 generations at the house on Thanksgiving Day. Besides immediate family, some people also have a Friendsgiving with several close friends coming year after year. One of our group is a young man that we “adopted” as part of our family. He’s our son’s best friend whose own family has dwindled and then moved away so he celebrates with us. Many churches also have a special holiday dinner for the church family or even for those who have no where to go. And sometimes we find ourselves far from home but feel the closeness of family simply because we’re with other believers—God’s family.
Distance and busy lives often keep us from visiting people whom we love and would like to see more often. There are times when we lose touch for months or even years. However, true “family” (of whichever type, blood, close friends, church or whatever) seem to be able to get that closeness back after just a short visit and then everything is just as if we’d never been apart. That is, until we must leave and go our separate ways again.
One day, however, that will no longer happen. That is, if we are all believers. One day we’ll be together in heaven for eternity. But what about the ones who may not be believers? Chances are some of your (and my) family members are still unbelievers. Do we want to be separated from them forever? There are no visiting privileges between heaven and hell. I don’t think we would want to see what’s happening in hell for sure. And do we want those people to tell us that we should have told them about Jesus? That would make us sad in heaven, and I don’t believe that we will be sad there.
So, what should we do? We need to let our family and friends know what Jesus did for us and that He can do the same for them. We may not be one of the twelve tribes of Israel, but it wouldn’t hurt to follow the guidelines that God gave the Hebrews in telling our families about God (Deuteronomy 6:5-7) We also need to pray for their salvation daily. Do you? I know that I fail in that respect. When we get a chance, we need to witness to them about the plan of salvation or at least make sure that someone does. But then we need to leave the results up to God.
Last night I heard a preacher talk about a man who constantly told him that he was “trying to save” his kids. That is NOT up to us. We can tell people about Jesus, we can pray for them, and we can be examples before them. But we CANNOT save them. Only GOD can do that, and it will also be according to His timing. We just need to do our part in letting people know about Him as we fulfill the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
If we think we had something to be thankful for this year, just wait until we get to heaven. We need to make sure that all our “family” members will be celebrating with us in heaven.
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 6:5-7; Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8
PRAYER: “Thank You, Lord, for saving me and for giving me so many wonderful family members, even those who are not related by blood here on earth. Please help me remember to pray for each one and to witness to those who don’t yet know You. Most of all, help me not to be a hindrance by being a bad example in my daily life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
RESPONSE: Think of your family members and close friends. Will you see them in heaven or do some of them not know Jesus as Savior? Pray for them and find a way to witness to them.
