15/04/2011 - Don’t forget anybody!

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“Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob” (Exodus 1:1)

The blessing of God isn’t just for you. It’s also for your household. So, don’t forget any of your dearest ones. The Israelites understood that they were expected to be fertile and strong for a king had risen against them. Likewise, every Christian needs to get stronger in the Lord, but no ruler will ever rise against us. Jesus is our only King!

God’s plan is that our entire family is included in the blessing contained in the salvation of Jesus. In the passage mentioned above it reads that all Israelites managed to come in Egypt – which symbolically means that the land they lived in was delivered from starvation. Likewise, the plan of salvation carried out by Christ is to reach all of us and those from our household as well. Nobody was left out in the list of the names of Jacob’s children. As for us, we must fight so the same will happen to our whole family. We’re to blame if any of them stays behind because it’s our duty to believe in their salvation and claim it with determination.

When God tells us there’s a blessing at our disposal He is doing His part, then it’s up to us to do ours. My brethren, check how many of your family members haven’t decided to follow our Master yet, or those who have already made this decision but are not standing firm in The Way now! Don’t leave anyone behind; struggle with all your might so the Gospel will be a reality in their lives as well. Do what the apostle Paul did if necessary: he prayed a lot for his children in faith as someone who labors in birth (Galatians 4:19).

The Israelites went to Egypt in order to take possession of that land and soon their descendents were tremendously increased. The lesson we learn here is that we were put in the work of God with all our dearest ones: both our blood family and those that the Lord will let us beget for Him. Israel got bigger and multiplied a lot. If we do the same, we’ll have more brothers and sisters enjoying the same blessings of our Father and helping us to live better.

It’s important that we become strong. Our strengthening is, by the way, a proof of the divine operation in our lives which will be a testimony for many around us. Now, how can your family believe in the message of the Lord if your converted relatives keep on living a terribly troubled life? If those who always asked you for help become prosperous, those people who haven’t accepted Jesus as their Lord will look at it as a mighty message of what God will also do for them.

The Gospel is the Land of the divine Promise for the entire mankind. So, why not lead all of our dearest ones to live the true life once we’ve found it? The enemy will do all he can to prevent that from happening; yet, we must fight to take possession of the land and deliver all our relatives and family.

As for the Israelites, there was another downside: another king rose to persecute them; yet, that will never happen to us because Jesus is King forever and no other one will rise (Daniel 2:44). His government is eternal and we’ll reign for eternity in Him. Remember you’ve been called to reign with the Lord (II Timothy 2:11–13)!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares