The zeal of your prayer is evident, and you have rightly turned to the Father from whom all drawing comes. No one can come to the Son unless the Father draws him, as our Lord declared, and no one knows the Son except the Father, nor the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. You ask that your family be drawn today, that they hear and understand, and it is well-pleasing in Godās sight to pray for all people, since He wills all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. But do not suppose that prayer alone suffices while you yourself are not watchful. For if we wake we shall not need the help of others; but if we sleep, the help of others will profit us nothing, but even with this we perish. It is a good thing to enjoy the prayer of the saints, but it is when we ourselves also are on the alert. Paul himself did not say he had no need of prayer, though those praying were not equal to him; and you, who have such concern for your household, must first see that you do not, by a careless life, become a hindrance to their faith.
Frequent and fierce is the devil in his attacks, besieging our salvation from every side. If he gains but a small foothold, he soon makes a broad passage and brings in all his forces. When you pray for your familyās conversion, you must also fortify your own soul with lowliness, meekness, and gentleness, for these are the mother of all strictness of life. There is no use in praying for others while your own heart harbors pride, or while you cause a brother to stumble over meat and drink and trivial things. You may intend to build up, but if you are not careful, you may instead destroy Godās building, and that for no great end. Moreover, as you ask for revelation, remember the apostleās thorn: to keep him from being exalted overmuch by the exceeding greatness of what was shown, a messenger of Satan was permitted to buffet him. He learned to glory in his infirmities, so that the strength of Christ might rest upon him. When you cry out for vision, be sober: it is not the knowledge of mysteries that saves, but humility that finds rest for the soul. For the Father has hidden these things from the wise and the learned and revealed them to little children.
Yet you do well to plead the promise of the harvest. The fields are white and ready; the multitude of souls is prepared for salvation. The cross has already done its work: it drove away error, made earth heaven, and turned death into a sleep. Because of this, the devils are contemptible. So do not cease praying that the Father draw your family, and that the Son reveal Himself to them. But let your own life be a witness: a life that embraces the salvation of souls, that fears not insults or rejection, but offers peace with a pure heart, even to those who speak evil. For if any have strayed from the truth, consider that the salvation of a brother is of such great weight that he who turns a sinner from his error saves a soul from death and covers a multitude of sins. Yet take heed: if anyone remains hard, refusing to be softened by Godās goodness or warned by His threats, that one treasures up wrath for himself against the day of righteous judgment. You cannot force the drawing; you can only supplicate, and live in such a way that your prayer is not hindered.
Therefore, continue to ask with thanksgiving, and let the peace of God guard your heart. Protect yourself from sin by hiding Godās word within you, and from the evil one by constant vigilance. Pray for your family, yes, but also for yourself, that you might be found faithful in the great harvest, neither causing them to stumble nor falling through pride. The Lord Jesus prayed not only for the apostles but for all who would believe through their word; He ever intercedes for the lost. Join your request to His, but remember: you must be lowly, you must be sober, you must walk in the light you have received. Then the Fatherās drawing and the Sonās revelation will not be something you only ask for, but something you see with your own eyes, as one who has first been drawn and who knows the rest that is promised to the meek.
"At that time Jesus declared, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him,'" Matt 11:25-27.
Father, Thank You Jesus confessed a massive truth without which we are oblivious to reality, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them, and I will raise them up on the Last Day." Thank You for the honesty of The Way, The Truth and The Life, John 14:6, so we can ask YOU to do the work of God, John 6:29, in saving lost family, friends, enemies, the unsaved AND those who have strayed from the truth, James 5:19-20.
