Day 24: Hardest to Reach

1: Scripture

- 2 Corinthians 3:1-6
- 2 Corinthians 4

2: Connection Point

It's difficult to see loved family members continually reject God, especially when you've experienced the freedom of God's love. Let's be honest here: you really want to shake them and yell, "God's right here waiting for you! He loves you! Why can't you accept that?"

The truth is, everything is in God's timing. Trust Him and be patient, because you alone can't do or say anything to make them accept Christ, God has to work within them too. We can't make them believe in God, they need to meet Jesus themselves and of free will, decide to follow Him.

Personally, I think it's much harder to witness to your family members than to your friends or strangers. With friends, we may be in fear that if we do something wrong, our friends won't want to be "friends" with us. But your family can see most of your flaws, especially when you are comfortable with treating them in the mindset of "they're my family and they HAVE to love me, so I can do anything I want."

My mom's sister and her husband are getting divorced. We love our uncle, but he's the one who wants the divorce. He's an atheist. Despite how many times we try to tell him about God, he has the mentality of "it works for you, that's great. But don't try to convert me." The divorce doesn't just affect them, but all of us. My siblings and me, my parents, and my cousins. Their kids, only 8 and 3, are way to young to be going through this.

It made me so sad at my birthday dinner to see the youngest one be so happy to finally see her dad again. (They stay with their mom during the weekdays and dad on the weekends.)

The good thing that has come out of this whole mess is my aunty has been continually coming to church and going to home group. My aunty and mom grew up with their parents always yelling at each other and wanting divorce. My uncle grew up with divorced and remarried parents. My mom tried to ask my uncle to try marriage one more time, since he knows what impact divorce has on children, but my uncle said that he "already tried everything." Actually, he didn't try everything. God can work within marriages to repair brokenness, but my uncle never turned to GOD and asked for His help.

So, what can we do when our family members are unsaved? First and foremost, love them, but you already knew that. With this in mind, everything you do (not just in front of them, but your whole life) should be Christ-like, so that they may see your actions and believe that Christ lives in you. (Matthew 5:16) That means that we can't just talk the talk, we have to WALK the talk.

I'm going to be honest here, I don't always do that. A lot of Christians don't always do it, but whether we know it or not, a lot of unbelievers look at Christians' lives to see if Jesus is real. We are God's vessels, and he calls us to be His examples (2 Corinthians 3:2-4).

Wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14). Continually pray for them. Your prayer many not be answered straight away, but God hears you. He knows your cry for your family members to know him, and He wants the same thing: for all of us to be together in heaven with Him for all eternity.

3: Journaling/Prayers

- Think of people in your family who are unsaved. How can you witness God's love to them specifically?
- What do you think is the hardest part about witnessing to your family members?