When did our hospitals for the sick become country clubs for the healthy? When did we start caring more about our comfort, religion, and status quo? When did we become Pharisees that care nothing about the sick and hurting in our communities? Or at best, we care, but we care on our religious terms. They come to us on our terms to get right, we never go to them.
Well, I believe in a God that so loved the world that He gave, that is He SENT, Jesus. God sent the Answer to us. Then, that same Jesus left us with the same mission. As He left the earth, only for a moment, He said GO into all the world making disciples. Pray for One is our term to say we are going to take this VERY seriously. Pray for one is not about opening the doors and praying they come. Pray for One is waking up every morning saying, “God, Your mission to reach the lost is still important, it is still our marching orders. God, today share with me ONE person to share your love with.” Then, after praying, we seek, we look, and we position ourselves to be used by God to be a beacon of His gospel message. Why do we start with prayer? We are incapable of saving anyone. It’s beyond us so we need Jesus. Secondly, if the lost is at the heart of God, shouldn’t we reason that this would be a prayer God loves to answer YES to?!
Before we address specifically what this should mean for followers of Jesus, check out these verses:
Where do we see this in scripture?
17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” ~Mark 2:17
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. ~Luke 15:1-7
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. ~1 Peter 3:15
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. ~1 Corinthians 9:22
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ~Romans 1:16
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ~Matthew 28:16-20
Other passages: Mark 16, Acts 1, Acts 2, Matthew 9, 2 Timothy 4
What should this mean to us as followers of Jesus?
A question to ask yourself: who am I helping to know Jesus?
I really love my wife. She is hardworking, beautiful, giving, selfless, an incredible mother, accomplished, dedicated. I could go on and on. Seriously, not as a cliche, but as reality. My love for her was all there when we got married, but it’s grown since then. The more I get to know her, the more we do life together, the more I love her.
Telling you about her is no skin off my back. In fact, it’s super easy. My love drives such ease.
Does our love for Jesus, ever growing and ever deepening, drive us to tell others about Him? The marriage illustration breaks down because there is no way I’m “sharing” my wife. Our relationship is exclusive. To that end, I have a personal relationship with Jesus. My God is big enough to have a personal relationship with ALL of us.
God has asked us (commanded) to share Him with others. Can a growing Christian truly be growing while ignoring the command He left us with as He ascended up into heaven? As we grow, we GO!
Pray for One is our value to guide our growing. Wake up and pray. Start with prayer. Identify someone by name that does not know Jesus. They are a ONE. God has called you to be part of their search and rescue team (see Luke 15 above.) So pray for them daily by name. Then look for opportunities to share the gospel and display the gospel. Love them. Additionally, pray for an opportunity with your one or a new one. Sometimes this is buying a coffee for someone at a coffee shop and they become a ONE. Sometimes, it’s the gas attendant, your offering water while praying God may open the door to share His love story.
Sometimes it’s a text of encouragement to a mom you know is struggling just like you, praying God opens the door for the gospel. Sometimes it’s DoorDashing a meal to someone you know is struggling, praying for an opportunity to share the gospel. Sometimes it’s sharing hope on our social media instead of all that we are against, praying it will open doors for the gospel.
God is on a great search and rescue mission for humanity. He celebrated when you were found. Now He is asking you to be on the search and rescue team for someone else, will you take this command seriously?
Got any helpful resources?
Yup, check it:
Books: Pray for One, Share Jesus without Fear, Case for Christ, Tell Someone, The Gospel Comes with a House Key, TThe Master Plan of Evangelism
RightNow Media Series: Conversational Evangelism, Threads, Workplace Grace, Evangelism and Friendship, A Nuts and Bolts Look at Evangelism
Websites: Carm, Cru.
What is one practical step I can do this week?
Identify your ONE and begin praying daily for them. Do it. Pray for One.
