When Loving the Lost Hits Home
I'm sure that many of you have heard the phrase, "Well that sure hits close to home." However, for me, this topic does not simply hit close to home. It hits smack dab in the middle of my home. And that topic is loving the lost.
The reason this hits home for me is because of my brother. He is so completely lost, striving for fulfillment in ways that could never satisfy. It's completely heartbreaking to see, yet also sometimes extremely frustrating. Because of how lost he is, he often does things that are downright infuriating. I find myself so often wanting to last out at him, or throw in a snide comment when, once again, he's in my face about being loud and waking him up (apparently 11:30 is far too early to be woken). Or when my sleep is disturbed by raunchy rap music turned so loud you would think we run a trap house.
I have to admit, sometimes I do lash out. But then I am reminded of the humbling phrase my dad so often uses. "Getting mad at a lost person for doing wrong is like getting mad at a blind man for stepping on your foot." Between you and me, it completely and utterly breaks me that this phrase applies to my brother. I mean, it crushes me. And terrifies me. Heaven would truly not be the same without Brandon in it. The thought of him spending eternity in hell brings me to tears (I'm literally sitting at my computer ugly crying as I type this).
However, in these moments of despair, I am reminded that there is incredible hope. I pray for my brother's salvation every single day and I KNOW that I have a God who hears me. And even if I have to pray for Brandon every day until the Lord calls me home, I will do it. I will never give up hope that my good God will call Brandon to Himself. I will continue striving to be a shining light to Him so that He sees what Christ can do.
So friend, how are you doing with this? How are you doing with praying for that lost person in your life, or showing them love when they need it? Are you broken over the fact that if they died today, you would never get to share in eternity with them? I have not always been good at any of this, and I still have such a long way to go. But if you ask the Lord, He will give you that desire and urgency to see the lost ones you love come to Christ. Let us go out and be ambassadors of the love of Jesus.
"But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." -John 1:12
The reason this hits home for me is because of my brother. He is so completely lost, striving for fulfillment in ways that could never satisfy. It's completely heartbreaking to see, yet also sometimes extremely frustrating. Because of how lost he is, he often does things that are downright infuriating. I find myself so often wanting to last out at him, or throw in a snide comment when, once again, he's in my face about being loud and waking him up (apparently 11:30 is far too early to be woken). Or when my sleep is disturbed by raunchy rap music turned so loud you would think we run a trap house.
I have to admit, sometimes I do lash out. But then I am reminded of the humbling phrase my dad so often uses. "Getting mad at a lost person for doing wrong is like getting mad at a blind man for stepping on your foot." Between you and me, it completely and utterly breaks me that this phrase applies to my brother. I mean, it crushes me. And terrifies me. Heaven would truly not be the same without Brandon in it. The thought of him spending eternity in hell brings me to tears (I'm literally sitting at my computer ugly crying as I type this).
However, in these moments of despair, I am reminded that there is incredible hope. I pray for my brother's salvation every single day and I KNOW that I have a God who hears me. And even if I have to pray for Brandon every day until the Lord calls me home, I will do it. I will never give up hope that my good God will call Brandon to Himself. I will continue striving to be a shining light to Him so that He sees what Christ can do.
So friend, how are you doing with this? How are you doing with praying for that lost person in your life, or showing them love when they need it? Are you broken over the fact that if they died today, you would never get to share in eternity with them? I have not always been good at any of this, and I still have such a long way to go. But if you ask the Lord, He will give you that desire and urgency to see the lost ones you love come to Christ. Let us go out and be ambassadors of the love of Jesus.
"But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." -John 1:12
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