Should we pray for people who dont believe in the power of prayer? Is it even worth it? If they dont care, why should I? This is one of those things that a lot of Christians come across--for example, one of your atheist friends finds out their dad has cancer, are you supposed to pray? If you are, should you tell them, and say your familys in my prayers, as many Christians will say to one another in similar situations? In short, yes--You should pray for those who dont believe in it--Would Jesus have turned away from a blind man, begging for sight, just because the blind man didnt know God? Even if they dont personally believe in God, He still believes in them, and He knows that you believe in Him--so He knows that its in YOUR POWER to do what theyre unwilling to do. He knows that its in YOUR power to say hey, God, I know he doesnt know You like I do, but he really needs Your help right now. If Youre willing, could You just help him get the care he needs--if anything, it will give him a longer time to get to know you in. Jesus sat with the sinners--you think there werent a few of those sinners who didnt believe in God? And why did Jesus sit with the sinners? He even tells the Pharisees: But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Its those who have sinned, and those who dont believe in God, who need God the most. Then comes the question: Should I tell them? Christians often say to one another that were in each others prayers--Oh, your dogs sick? Youre in my prayers. Oh, your aunt is in the hospital? My prayers go out to your family. But should we say that to people who dont believe in prayer? I kind of feel thats your choice, but I dont think it would hurt--even if you say I know you dont believe in this kind of thing, but-- before you say anything. If anything, it shows them how much you care, and it simultaneously plants the seed of God in their mind. Im a firm believer, that even people who claim not to believe in God, at heart, know Him as well as those who do (believe in God). All of us have souls, and that soul knows God, whether our flesh does or not. Even in Romans, Paul tells us Brethren, my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (Romans 10:1-2, KJV) And what I get out of that is that even though those of Israel didnt know God in the flesh, but they did in the spirit. They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. And even though they didnt know Him, Paul prays for their saving. Paul had this soft spot in his heart for those who didnt believe--I dont know whether to call it love, or pity, or both. Paul was even willing to go to hell in place of others: I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: (Romans 9:1-3, KJV) Paul shows us what the duty of a Christian is--to love everyone, whether they believe in God, or not. To pray to God for them, as they are unwilling. It is the duty of a Christian to ask God to do His will on all beings of this earth, that they may be saved. It is the burden of the Christian--the Cross upon our own backs--to direct the lost. But it is not our duty, nor is it within our ability, to save them, nor to help them entirely--Just like a sign in the road, we can point them in the right direction, but we cannot escort them--thats Gods duty, and Gods duty alone. But heres the catch-- Before we can pray for others, we have to pray for ourselves--otherwise, its the blind leading the blind. A sign with no letters nor identifying markers, trying to tell a person to head left, when they should go right. We must pray for forgiveness for ourselves, we must pray for Him to break our hearts for the lost, that we may give ourselves in earnest intercession for their salvation, we must pray for help to present a loving witness to them, and we must pray for the passion of Paul for a world that lost its way. Then, and only then, are we able to pray for those who are lost. It is only after removing the beam from our own eye, that we might be able to help a friend remove the mote from his: Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brothers eye. (Matthew 7:5, KJV) †God Bless --Matt
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:57:16 +0000
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