Ezekiel 18:20
The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.
Perhaps all of us have loved ones who have rejected the Word of God and walk in rebellion to the things of eternal value. What are we to do and how are we to treat these individuals?
I think the best example we have on the situation is the family of Jesus. If ever there were siblings that should have eagerly followed the faith of their parents and older brother, it should have been His own family. The truth of the matter was that they did not come to faith until after His death and resurrection.
Jesus never saw His own brothers and sisters come to accept Him as their personal Savior. I am quick to add that, as the Son of God, He saw this, but not from a human perspective. So how did Jesus deal with unbelieving family members?
The answer is that Jesus lived His faith all the way to the cross and beyond. It is far too easy for us to drive our loved ones away from us by a continual barrage of sermonizing. We should rather love them into the Kingdom of God by our faithful walk with the Lord. Watch for opportunities to lead others to the Lord. You may be the answer to another’s prayer.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil