SIX STEPS TO BRING LOVED ONES TO JESUS

How do we help our wayward friends and family? The ones we so desperately want to see accept Jesus as their savior? We all have people we wish would accept Christ and live in His service. What peace and assurance they could have and we could have, knowing their names are written in the lamb’s book of life. This is a question posed to me recently by a friend, concerned for a loved one. How do we reach them for Christ?
 
Do we preach to them? Do we leave scripture laying around ‘inconspicuously’ for them to find? Do we buy them Christian books? Do we trick them in to going to church with the promise of a free mug? What do we do? Our hearts break watching our loved ones navigate this sinful world without Jesus.
 
First and foremost, are we a living testimony? Are we reflecting something they would want? God will help us examine ourselves and show us what needs correction in our lives.
 
Are we walking in the fruit of the spirit: (Galatians 5:22) LOVE, JOY PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL so others will be drawn to Jesus?
 
Next, it can be hard, but do not judge. Only God knows the heart of man and their salvation status. Even if they openly denounce Christ, we still must not judge, but only reach out to them.
  
Matthew 7:1-6 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
 
Then we can walk out our ‘great commission’.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
John 3:17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.
  
Our next clue is in.....
Matthew 22:36-40 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 And he said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second like unto it is this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets.
 
Showing love to others will direct them to our Lord because He IS love.

Okay, now we have the first parts of the puzzle.... 1) Examine ourselves; 2) Do not judge and 3) LOVE.
 
How do we love the unlovable, you ask? How do we show love when they strongly oppose us or perhaps, they’re simply apathetic? Well, I’m glad you ask. The answer is found in the next step.

Luke 24:48-49 Ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.

John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Acts 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
 
Puzzle piece #4 is to bath ourselves in the Holy Spirit. This is our power needed to reach others. We can ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to have a heart of LOVE for all those around us. He will help.

Step #5 is something Jesus practiced often and so must we if we are to receive POWER.
Luke 18:1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.

PRAY for our loved ones regularly and finally, leave those loved ones in the hands of Jesus and ‘do not lose heart.’
 
Below are the six steps and I most assuredly will NOT call them six ‘EASY’ steps because they can be, extremely difficult, but in the long run, they will bring peace in the midst of chaos.
 
1. Search ourselves and remove the log in our own eye (i.e. sin) first.
2. Do not judge.
3. Love.
4. Ask the Holy Spirit for the power and ability to love others and to live a life that’s a witness to the goodness of God.
5. Pray for not only our lost loved ones, but for a lost world, EVERY DAY!
6. Let go and leave them in Jesus’ hands.
 

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.