Gracious Father, thank You for giving us Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
Please help me to be a good witness in my family and live out Your love so that my dad will see the life-changing power of Jesus in me.
[PAUSE: Reflect on your attitude, words, and actions, and ask Father God to help you.]
Father, I know that You have placed eternal life in my dad’s heart. Open his eyes and touch his heart, so that he may understand his need for the salvation that Jesus Christ gives, and be willing to confess his sins and repent. For You are faithful and just, and will forgive him his sins and cleanse him from all unrighteousness.
In the fullness of Your love, guide Daddy to the truth and help him to establish a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. May he become a new creation, willingly and gladly obeying Your commands! May You lead him to rest beside quiet waters and receive fullness of life.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:11; John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 John 1:9
The Day My Dad Met Jesus
I obtained mercy . . . as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
My grandfather, my father, and his brothers were all tough men who, understandably, didn’t appreciate people who “got up in their faces about faith.” When my father, Howard, was diagnosed with a rapid and deadly cancer, I was so concerned that I took every opportunity to talk to him about Jesus’ love. Inevitably he would end the discussion with a polite but firm: “I know what I need to know.”
I promised not to raise the issue again and gave him a set of cards that shared the forgiveness God offers, which he could read when he wanted. I entrusted Dad to God and prayed. A friend also asked God to keep my dad alive long enough to know Jesus.
One afternoon the call came telling me Dad was gone. When my brother met me at the airport, he said, “Dad told me to tell you he asked Jesus to forgive his sin.” “When?” “The morning he passed,” Mark replied. God had shown him “mercy” as He had shown us (1 Tim. 1:16).
Sometimes we talk about the gospel, other times we share our story, still other times we just show a silent Christlike example, and always we pray. We know that salvation is ultimately a work of God and not something we can do for another. God is a gracious God, and no matter what the outcome of our prayers, He can be trusted.
Reflect & Pray
Do your words and actions reflect the love of Jesus in front of your family? How would you pray for your dad?
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling—
Calling for you and for me;
Patiently Jesus is waiting and watching—
Watching for you and for me! —Thompson
We plant and water, but God gives the increase.
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