Saving Souls

Staff Writer – Carol Cato

I intended to write a blog on compassion, and while thinking about what to write, I remembered the sermon my Pastor gave the other day, about ‘Saving Souls.’ As we go to God in prayer, do we actually pray for our family members who have not been saved or do we just pray for ourselves?

I must admit that when I was born again, I wanted all my friends and family to follow, I think I may have drove them mad until they avoided me, however, I did manage to win the soul of one person.  But after 3 years I gave up and concentrated on my own needs.

The sermon at church was on compassion for other people and charities, how much we get involved, do we pray for them?  Then the Pastor asked about the compassion we have for the people we know, our family and friends; how can we sit across a table having breakfast with a family member, knowing that they not saved? Like me, you may have tried talking to them before and they may have shunned you, but have you tried prayer lately?  Praying for the soul of your family and friends is what you need to do, when there is nothing else.

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Job 42:10 “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

James 5:17-18 tells us, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain

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on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” It wasn’t Elijah’s asking that accomplished this, God answered Elijah’s request because it was His will, God had a purpose in it.  God can take away things by our praying and affect people and nations and He can add things and bless them. He can do beyond even what we ask for as we are under a covenant of grace. He can and does miracles for his namesake. We cannot limit God in our prayer nor can we command him or control him what to do what we would like by our request.  Psalm 145:18 “the Lord is near to all those who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.”

I have started to talk to people again about their lives and being saved.  People often tell me that they go to church, believing that going to church make them saved.  I think a lot of people get caught up in the religious rituals of going to church every Sunday and think that is enough.  As a Christian you must understand you are a child of God, you are a spiritual being and God wants to have a personal relationship with you.  It is far better if you have a personal relationship with God every day than go to church once a week, on Sunday.

Having a personal relationship with God means we include God in our daily lives. We regularly pray to Him, read His word, and meditate on scripture in an effort to get to know Him better. In doing so, we should pray for wisdom, (James 1:5) which is the most valuable asset we could ever have. We should take our requests to Him, asking it in Jesus’ name. (John 15:16)For Jesus loved us enough to give His life for us, (Romans 5:8) and He bridges the gap between us and God.

None of us can save sinners; none of us can force people to believe the gospel.  We do have the promise of John 6:37 “that whoever comes to Jesus, He will not cast away.  All who call upon His name can be saved” Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13 “Jesus died for all so that all can be saved through faith in Him” (see also John 1:29; 3:16; 5:24-25; Galatians 1:4; 2:20; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; 1 John 2:1-2).

Only God foreknows those who will be His own, therefore  our duty is not to try to figure out who the elect are, but to preach Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to draw sinners through the gospel (Romans 10:14-17).  God has promised to save sinners and He does the saving Himself (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).  Our job is to preach (1 Corinthians 1:21).  It is the work of God to save people (1 Timothy 4:10).

So while you are on your knees in prayer have some compassion for your fellow man, include them in your prayers.  There are so many ways: I pray for the people on the train and driver, that their hearts is opened up with compassion for the gospel, I also pray for the safety of commuters as they travel to work. I pray for the World Leaders, that their laws are in line with God’s laws.

As I end this blog I pray for every one of you reading it; that your lives will be transformed; that you seek the kingdom first and everything else will be added; that you will have a personal relationship with God; and if you are not yet saved that God opens up your heart and you will thirst for His Words. Amen.