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Rescued through understanding

Message #11 (of 20) from the PrayerPower radio series
"Praying for the Lost"

by Kaye Johns

 

Paul, in Colossians 1, wrote to his faithful brothers in Christ that he was giving thanks to the Father, "who has qualified you to share in the...kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves...." [Colossians 1:12-14]

How did our Father, the One Who draws us [John 6:44], Who enables us [John 6:65], rescue the Colossians from the kingdom of darkness? We want to understand this when we pray for the lost today. God won’t override their free will to choose, so how does He draw, enable and rescue?

Earlier in the chapter, Paul tells us. "We thank God for...your faith in Christ Jesus...the faith and love ...that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you... [that you] heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth." [Colossians 1:3-6]

It’s like a rescue at sea. God holds out the lifeline of the Gospel. He helps us see it, and understand what it is. He gives us faith to believe that we can reach for it and be saved--but we never lose the right to make the choice.

We ask that God would help the lost fully understand the truth, for "When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart." [Matthew 13:19] We ask for understanding and a sense of urgency, that they will choose life while there is yet time.

 

Pray with me now -- Father, help those we love who are yet in the kingdom of darkness to understand Jesus is the Light of the world, for we pray in His name, amen.

 

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