Praying for a Loved One

This would be another one of those times when I turn to writing to help me sort out my feelings and emotions.  Sometimes they fire across the bridge, back and forth so quickly I can’t figure out which is right.

I am sure many people like me have been in this same place.  A Christian, some one who loves Jesus Christ with all of their being, so overwhelmed by His sacrifice for me... nothing more than a selfish, know it all sinner; with a dear friend or family member who doesn’t get it, who doesn’t realize... 

Some are indifferent, “What’s good for you is good for you and what’s good for me is good for me”, others are angry and demeaning twisting the truth into something ugly like bigotry or intolerance. (I suppose I am intolerant, intolerant of Satan and his lies but not the dear people that he is deceiving.)

Several years ago through the public forum of Facebook, I began to see someone I love and care about very much start to post things, things that defaced the body of believers, things that promoted the destructive and sly lies of the enemy.  At first, I thought it was just a creative young man trying to rattle some cages, thinking it was funny to make people squirm; but I have watched it continue on and on and I fear now that Satan may have a real hold on this person who is so dear to me. 

I struggle inside myself with what to do.  Do I just keep praying?  Say nothing.  Or should I be doing more.  I wish I could drive across town, take him out to dinner and talk with him, let him see the love I have for him written on my face, and hear the concern I have for him.  To know in his heart that all I want is for him to experience the unexplainable joy that comes from walking with Jesus day in and day out.  To know that I am not judging him, I am just like him.  Pursued by an enemy, who seeks to destroy everything that is good, everything that God has for us.  But I can’t... I let that opportunity slip away.  Now I am left with words on paper, or maybe he has a phone, I’m not sure.  What would I say?  What would he hear?

Would he hear the pain and sadness in my heart?  Would he hear how desperate I am for him to come back, to experience the love of his Savior in a way he never has before? To have Jesus transform his life in ways he can’t even comprehend. Would he see that I only want good for him?  Would he see how much I love him?

I know in my heart that he truly is God’s masterpiece created in Christ Jesus to do good works.  He’s rich in talent, a skilled musician, a fabulous sense of humor and on those occasions when I have been with him his tender and helpful spirit always makes me smile.  I know that the Lord would use him in powerful ways to do so much!  Could this be part of his journey? I know God could use all of this time away from Him to weave a beautiful tapestry of testimony... oh, that is my prayer.  To see him come back, to live a life sold out for Christ, to see what God would do in and through him that is my deepest prayer. 

It just occurred to me that it is "Passion Week", the week leading up to Easter.  Good Friday... I don't think "good" begins to express what that "Friday" meant for all of us.  Good doesn't even scratch the surface. 

Betrayed, arrested, bound, questioned, struck, denied, handed over, found innocent, flogged, crowned with thrones, struck, handed over to be crucified, carried his cross, crucified, pierced and then laid in a tomb.   For me... in my place, for my sins.

But then... came SUNDAY!! "While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." ... "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?  Look at my hand and my feet.  It is I myself!  Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."  "This is what is written:  The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the the third day and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."