Acts 16:34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God — he and his whole family.

This story has many memorable verses, most notably verses 30 and 31, but particularly in reference to those, this verse must not be overlooked. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household” (verse 31) is a glorious promise, but it doesn’t exempt anyone in the household from the need to repent and believe. I have seen people cling to verse 31, both in the US and Japan, without doing anything particular to help those in their household believe for themselves. That’s changing a Biblical promise into a good luck charm. We can’t force anyone to believe, but we can pray consistently for them and give them all the information necessary to believe, most especially by the testimony of our changed lives. Just yesterday we were with a couple who illustrate this principle beautifully. The wife was raised in a Christian home and had been a Christian for many years, but they had been married for over 30 years before the husband, to the great shock of his wife, suddenly believed and was transformed. He verbally indicates that it was because of my impact on him, but I think his wife had largely given up on him years before. At this point they are praying for their grown daughter to become a Christian, but the Lord spoke through me yesterday to tell the wife to challenge her daughter to commit herself to Christ, since she has seen what that did to her father. Witnessing to family members is difficult, since they see all our faults as well as our strong points, but that in itself is part of our testimony: God saves those who need it! After all, Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32) We are to rejoice in God’s promises, but not overlook the conditions that attach to them.

I couldn’t begin to count how many people I have run into who have clung to verse 31 while overlooking their part in its fulfillment. It really is rather tragic. I rejoice that my closest family are believers, but there are others a little further out who haven’t made the commitment. I am limited in my impact because of physical distance, but that is no obstacle to prayer, and I’m certainly to keep that up. I grew up in a family of faith and I know the huge blessing that is, so I am to “keep up the pressure,” spiritually speaking, so that others may enjoy that blessing as well.

Father, thank You for the joy and privilege of participating in Your plan of salvation for others. May I be consistent in my witness, in actions as well as words, so that as many as possible may be brought from death to life, from darkness to light, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!