Even Those
“You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds. O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on the earth, even those who sail on distant seas.”
- Psalm 65:5 NLT
I love this verse. It captures the heart of our Heavenly Father in many powerful ways. The words “even those” are what I want to draw our attention to in this blog.
No matter how far gone you may personally feel right now, Jesus is the hope you need. He is the hope of everyone…even those who sail on distant seas.
No matter how far gone that loved one of yours may seem to be right now, Jesus is still the hope they need. They may seem “way out there” to you and to others, but they are not too far gone for Him.
Jesus can rescue…even those.
Even those with bipolar disorder. Even those with schizophrenia. Even those who currently worship the devil. Even those in prison. Even those bound by drugs and alcohol. Even those who are homeless. Even those who are divorced. Even those who are filled with hate. Even those who identify as an atheist. Even those who are religiously self-righteous.
Even those…can be saved.
Even your drunk uncle. Even your mean neighbor. Even your abusive father. Even your confused cousin. Even your arrogant husband. Even corrupt politicians. Even your science teacher. Even your peer-pressuring friends. Yes, even those…can be saved.
NO ONE IS TOO FAR GONE FOR JESUS!
That’s including YOU who are reading this right now. Jesus specializes in transforming society's hot messes and menaces into walking miracles of His glory.
What if, instead of writing others off, we wrote their name on a prayer list and committed to interceding for their salvation and deliverance…?
Let’s refuse to allow the current condition, bad choices, and lifestyle of others to stop us from praying for them. Remember, we walk and pray by faith not by sight.
Now, I want to give you 3 things this verse inspires me to do:
1. NEVER GIVE UP ON OTHERS
No matter how far, how dark, and how low sin takes people, I don’t want to give up on them. Jesus is a miracle worker. He is the hope of everyone on the earth. He loves the millionaire and the menace who is desperately looking for their next meal in a maggot-filled trash bin all the same. The rich and the rotten can both be redeemed.
2. KEEP PRAYING
Praying for others is one of the best things we can do for them. As I'm praying for them, my heart is staying filled with love and hope for that individual. Those that I continually pray for, I keep seeing through eyes of love, not judgment and condemnation.
3. STAY GRATEFUL
I don’t know about you, but I was once an “even those” lost on the distant seas of drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, and suicide. Some wrote me off. Others wrote my name on a prayer list. By the grace of God and the persistent prayers of a faithful few, I went from drifting on distant seas to dining with Jesus, my Savior. I went from track marks to transformation. From being filled with Hepatitis C to being filled with the Holy Spirit. From a heart filled with anger and bitterness to a tender heart that overflows with forgiveness.
I’m grateful for King Jesus and His redeeming love. I’m grateful for everyone who never stopped praying for me. I’m grateful they saw beyond my track marks. I’m grateful they saw my worth and value. I’m grateful they loved me back to life!
"For God so loved the world (even those) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
- John 3:16 NKJV
Written by Travis Habbershon