Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer reflects a sincere confidence in the power of God's Word and His work in the human heart, and that confidence is well placed. Scripture assures us that His Word does not return empty but accomplishes what He purposes, like rain and snow that water the earth and cause it to bring forth life. The seed is the Word of God, and when that seed has been planted, we can trust Him to do what only He can do.
You have planted and others will water, but it is God who gives the growth. That truth keeps us humble and hopeful at the same time. We are not responsible for producing the change, and we do not take credit when it comes. From Him and through Him and to Him are all things, so all glory belongs to Him alone. Salvation belongs to the Lord, and He has provided only one way for sin to be dealt with, through Jesus Christ. Simply believing that God exists is not salvation. Even to acknowledge that God is real only shows a person is not a fool, for the fool says in his heart there is no God. Salvation comes by believing into a vital, life changing relationship with Jesus Christ, trusting Him alone to forgive and to make us new. When that happens, life is changed.
That is why the call to repentance is so central. John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and Jesus Himself called sinners to repentance. He said He did not come to call the righteous but sinners, because those who are well do not need a physician but those who are sick do. In the same way, His letters to the churches call for repentance, for a turning that makes us what He wants us to be. True repentance is not just feeling sorry, it is a change of heart and direction. When Zacchaeus truly turned, he offered to restore what he had taken. David understood that his adultery and murder were ultimately sin against God. Real conversion shows itself in a changed life.
God in His kindness leads toward that repentance. He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but wanting all to come to repentance and to come to the knowledge of the truth. He is at work even now, and His Word is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, able to divide soul and spirit and to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and brings truth to light. Often He humbles a person before He lifts them up, for humility comes before honor. Like the prodigal who came to his senses, like the one who was humbled until he acknowledged God, a heart can be brought to see its need and to turn.
We can also trust that God orders steps and brings people across one another's paths to speak truth and to show His kindness. He did this when He led the evangelist to the official reading Isaiah, when He sent one believer to find Saul, and when He directed His servants to go and help others. He continues to place people in the way to water what has been planted, to restrain evil, and to carry forward any good work He has begun until the day of Christ. That work includes protecting those who love truth from deception and from the evil one, as they receive the love of the truth and are saved.
Continue to pray with confidence. The fervent prayer of those made righteous through faith in Christ is powerful and effective, and God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Ask in the name of Jesus with thanksgiving, believing that He hears. Remember that the greatest need any person has is salvation, far greater than any other need. To enter heaven with loss is better than to have everything in this life and be without Christ. Heaven rejoices over one sinner who truly repents, and that is worth continued intercession for your wife, for family near and far, for children and generations to come, and for all who have heard the Word.
Keep sowing the Word faithfully, keep loving truth, keep showing the kindness of God that points toward repentance, and entrust the increase to Him. He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it, and He will keep His own from evil as they walk with Him.
You have planted and others will water, but it is God who gives the growth. That truth keeps us humble and hopeful at the same time. We are not responsible for producing the change, and we do not take credit when it comes. From Him and through Him and to Him are all things, so all glory belongs to Him alone. Salvation belongs to the Lord, and He has provided only one way for sin to be dealt with, through Jesus Christ. Simply believing that God exists is not salvation. Even to acknowledge that God is real only shows a person is not a fool, for the fool says in his heart there is no God. Salvation comes by believing into a vital, life changing relationship with Jesus Christ, trusting Him alone to forgive and to make us new. When that happens, life is changed.
That is why the call to repentance is so central. John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and Jesus Himself called sinners to repentance. He said He did not come to call the righteous but sinners, because those who are well do not need a physician but those who are sick do. In the same way, His letters to the churches call for repentance, for a turning that makes us what He wants us to be. True repentance is not just feeling sorry, it is a change of heart and direction. When Zacchaeus truly turned, he offered to restore what he had taken. David understood that his adultery and murder were ultimately sin against God. Real conversion shows itself in a changed life.
God in His kindness leads toward that repentance. He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but wanting all to come to repentance and to come to the knowledge of the truth. He is at work even now, and His Word is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, able to divide soul and spirit and to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and brings truth to light. Often He humbles a person before He lifts them up, for humility comes before honor. Like the prodigal who came to his senses, like the one who was humbled until he acknowledged God, a heart can be brought to see its need and to turn.
We can also trust that God orders steps and brings people across one another's paths to speak truth and to show His kindness. He did this when He led the evangelist to the official reading Isaiah, when He sent one believer to find Saul, and when He directed His servants to go and help others. He continues to place people in the way to water what has been planted, to restrain evil, and to carry forward any good work He has begun until the day of Christ. That work includes protecting those who love truth from deception and from the evil one, as they receive the love of the truth and are saved.
Continue to pray with confidence. The fervent prayer of those made righteous through faith in Christ is powerful and effective, and God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Ask in the name of Jesus with thanksgiving, believing that He hears. Remember that the greatest need any person has is salvation, far greater than any other need. To enter heaven with loss is better than to have everything in this life and be without Christ. Heaven rejoices over one sinner who truly repents, and that is worth continued intercession for your wife, for family near and far, for children and generations to come, and for all who have heard the Word.
Keep sowing the Word faithfully, keep loving truth, keep showing the kindness of God that points toward repentance, and entrust the increase to Him. He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it, and He will keep His own from evil as they walk with Him.
