A Prayer to Make the Most of Our Time with Individuals
By Lynette Kittle

“As has simply been stated: “Right this moment, in the event you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts as you probably did in the riot.” – Hebrews 3:15

Sadly, listening to of the lack of somebody we all know or love brings remorse, pondering that if solely we had recognized beforehand of their quickly passing, we’d have reached out, reconciled, or spent extra time collectively. Sorrow and grief deliver so many ideas of missed alternatives discovering too late that they wouldn’t be with us for much longer.

Particularly as Christians, when listening to of somebody’s passing who didn’t know the Lord, our first ideas typically flip to, “If solely we had recognized they didn’t have a lot time left on earth, we’d have made positive to share the gospel with them.”

Having Time to Resolve
My husband is a hospice chaplain, so in some ways, those that are given time frames for his or her end-of-life, are given the present of time to make selections. However sadly, for individuals who cross away immediately or unexpectedly, time has slipped away. An end-of-life timeline provides people and their households time to say the issues they need to say, to spend time collectively, and way more. In some ways, contemplating real-time dying provides folks valuable alternatives to maintain vital issues whereas nonetheless residing. In his ministry to sufferers and households, my husband helps to reconcile them to God throughout the time they’ve left. As effectively, to settle household points, reconcile with family members, and ask and obtain forgiveness from one another.

Every one in all us has this chance to do the identical, as God has referred to as us to take action. “All that is from God, who reconciled us to Himself via Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting folks’s sins towards them. And He has dedicated to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Sitcoms typically present characters in conditions the place they assume they’ll die, confiding in one another, clearing the air, and generally even professing love for each other, all to be rescued by the top of the present. Nonetheless, these make-believe portrayals can inspire us to profit from the time we have now with these we love whereas we nonetheless have the time to take action.

Sharing Christ Right this moment, Like There’s No Tomorrow
In Luke 16, a wealthy man passes away and sees the beggar Lazarus in paradise with Father Abraham.  Calling out to them, he asks for him to ship Lazarus over to consolation him, however Abraham explains. “Between us and also you an excellent chasm has been set in place, in order that those that need to go from right here to you can’t, nor can anybody cross over from there to us’” (v.26). The wealthy man then pleads for Abraham to ship Lazarus again to his household to warn them of the place they’re headed. ”He answered, ‘Then I urge you, Father, ship Lazarus to my household, for I’ve 5 brothers. Let him warn them, in order that they won’t additionally come to this place of torment’” (v.27). However Abraham explains the way it’s not attainable, and there are folks already sharing the gospel if solely they’d pay attention and obtain.

Though we will’t return and regain alternatives to share the gospel with those that have handed away, we will study from these sorrows and make an effort to share Him with others from right here out, like there isn’t a tomorrow to return. As a result of the reality is, we aren’t given a assure that they are going to be right here subsequent 12 months, month, or week and even tomorrow.

Let’s pray:

Pricey Father,
Thanks for giving us the ministry of reconciliation and the privilege of having the ability to lead people to You with the message of reconciliation via Christ Jesus. Forgive us for the occasions we’ve let slip by in reaching out to others. Free us from the sorrow, remorse, and grief skilled via these missed alternatives. Open our eyes to see, our ears to listen to, and our hearts to acknowledge the occasions we’re given to share You with these we love and people we meet alongside the best way. Assist us to not miss telling others about You however to be prepared and keen to succeed in out to at least one one other in each alternative You deliver earlier than us.
In Jesus’ title, amen.

Picture credit score: ©GettyImages/shapecharge

Lynette Kittle is married with 4 daughters. She enjoys writing about religion, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been printed by Deal with the Household, Resolution, Right this moment’s Christian Girl, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and extra. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent College and serves as affiliate producer for Soul Examine TV.

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