We Believe...Do You?

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household”…Acts 16:31.

One of my greatest prayers is for my family to know Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Savior.

From the time I knew I was carrying each child, I began to earnestly pray for them…asking God to help them grow and mature in my womb into beautiful, healthy babies!

I prayed for their arrival date…asking God to be with me as I delivered each bundle of joy. 

Once each child arrived, I began praying for their relationship with God!  My desire was for each of them to have a personal relationship with Jesus!  I wanted my children to know Him!

It was a blessing to pray with each of my children as they prayed and asked Jesus Christ to come into their hearts as Lord and Savior of their lives!

Over the past several years, our family has grown!  Not only do I have two sons and one daughter, but I have been blessed with two daughter-in-laws and one son-in-law!

And more recently, we have been blessed with five grandsons, ranging from 4 months old to almost 4 years old! 

As our family continues to grow, I pray that we will always be there for each other…maybe not always agreeing with other…but loving each other through the good and bad times!

I pray that we would be a family that prays for one another…genuinely caring about the needs of each family member, and when one family has a need…we are there for them!

And most of all, I pray that each family member will love the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind…serving and following Him all the days of their lives.

I am reminded of the story of when Paul and Silas were in jail.  They were praying and singing hymns to God and the other prisoners as they sat in chains in their prison cell. 

As they were singing, suddenly, there was a violent earthquake and the foundations of the prison were shaken.  The prison doors flew open and everybody’s chains came loose. 

When the jailer woke up, he saw the prison doors open.  He drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.

However, Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself!  We are all here”…Acts 16: 28.

Falling before Paul and Silas, the jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”…Acts. 16:30.

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.”  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.  At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.  The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God – he and his whole family…Acts 16:31-34.

What a time of rejoicing this must have been for the jailer and his family.  They once were lost, but now they were saved!

Upon hearing the truth…hearing God’s word…this jailer knew that his whole family need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ!  His desire was to share this good news with them.

I am blessed to see my children teaching their children…my grandchildren…about Jesus!  I’m blessed that they desire for their families to love the Lord with all their hearts!

Maybe you have a family member who doesn’t know Jesus yet.  Keep praying for that precious family member!  God loves this individual more than you can imagine!

And prayerfully, you will one day rejoice as the jailer did…because he and his whole family had come to believe in God.

Dear Heavenly Father…thank you for family!  And thank you for our brothers and sister in Christ!  Not only have you blessed us with our individual families…you have blessed us with a large family called the church!  Thank you for surrounding us with loved ones…and Heavenly Father…thank you for adopting us as your own.  Oh, how we adore and love you!