Saving the lives of your family

I’m fortunate to have been raised in a Christian family.  And because of that, when my dad passed away this year, our family had comfort in the fact that he’s with Jesus now.

But not everyone has that peace about their family.  And so they pray to God for their family’s salvation.

That was Rahab’s hope.  She knew that the Israelites were going to attack Jericho, and asked the spies she had protected to spare her life and that of her family.  And the spies told her,

This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house.

If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible.  As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him.  (Joshua 2:17-19)

The spies made provision for the salvation of Rahab and her family.  She was to make sure that her house was marked with a red cord in the window and she had to make sure that her family stayed in her house during the attack.

God makes a similar provision for our salvation.  When we become Christians, God puts the seal of the Holy Spirit on us marking us as his.  (Ephesians 1:13)

But in order for our family members to be saved, they too need to be brought under his seal.  There is no other way for them to be saved.

Rahab had to tell her family about this provision in order for them to be saved.  And so do we.

We cannot just pray for our family and say nothing.  We can’t just stay safe in our own salvation, and hope that somehow our family is spared.  We need to tell them.

Rahab did and her family was saved.

How about you?  For some of your family members, you may be the only one they know who knows Jesus.

Will you tell them?  Will you bring them into the house of God?  Or will you just let them perish apart from Christ?

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?

And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?

And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:13-14)