Day 1 – Who Can Be Saved?

“The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed and asked each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:24-27 (NIV)

The disciples asked Jesus in Mark 10, “𝑊ℎ𝑜 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑑?” The answer Jesus gave is the same today: what seems impossible to humans is entirely possible for God. Recently, I listened to a powerful testimonial from a former Satanist, and something he shared deeply touched my heart. He revealed that his parents prayed for him nonstop, even though he was estranged from them, and he didn’t know about their prayers. People he had never met also prayed for his salvation 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞, and Christians across the country lifted him in prayer. He testified that those prayers were instrumental in his journey toward salvation. 

This story is a profound reminder that prayer is a powerful tool – an act that moves the heart of God. It reassures us that no one is beyond His reach and we can, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑, pray earnestly for our lost loved ones. Prayer works, and God hears the cries of His children. As followers of Jesus Christ, we all have family members who are not yet saved: our children, parents, siblings, and friends. It can break our hearts to see loved ones living without the hope of salvation, but I want to encourage you today: I truly believe that their salvation is possible. Nothing is impossible for God. I invite you to go on a devotional journey with me to pray for our unsaved loved ones. Let’s trust in the power of prayer, knowing that God can transform hearts and bring salvation where there seems to be no hope.

Prayer: Lord, in Isaiah 43:1, we read, “𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑤, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠—ℎ𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑏, ℎ𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝐼𝑠𝑟𝑎𝑒𝑙: ‘𝐷𝑜 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑓𝑒𝑎𝑟, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢; 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑏𝑦 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒; 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒.’” We believe, Lord, that You, our Father, can save our loved ones. Nobody is beyond Your reach. No one is lost to You, Abba Father. As an act of faith, we surrender our loved ones into Your hands, out of the influence of the world and into Your loving care. You have called them by name, and You declare that they are Yours. We trust in Your power to save. We stand on Your promise that all things are possible with You. Amen. ©

Marie Swanepoel